Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Walker
Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey with watercolor and contemporary botanical art started in a simple, even silly way, but my love for drawing and painting goes back much further.
As a child in secondary school, I dreamed of designing clothes. I loved sketching figures in elaborate gowns—it was the first thing I truly wanted to do when I grew up. That dream didn’t materialize, and over time, I stopped drawing altogether. In the early 2000s, I briefly rediscovered my passion for art through charcoal, pastels, and oils, but life became challenging, and once again, I let it go.
In 2018, I stumbled upon an article about Bullet Journaling in a newsletter. I had always kept a daily planner, and when I saw bullet journaling, I was instantly hooked. I bought all the tools—rulers, pencils, markers—I was ready. It combined my love of drawing and organization, making it the perfect creative outlet. While browsing Pinterest for layout ideas, I came across beautiful, loose watercolor florals and thought, I could do that! How hard can it be?
As it turned out—for me, very hard.
Determined, I bought a book and a set of watercolors, practicing a lesson every day. I fell completely in love with painting, though my loose florals never quite worked. Eventually, I became discouraged.
At the time, I was creating a series of paintings to capture each stage of my sister’s pregnancy. I told myself that once I finished, I would give up painting altogether. I’ve always struggled with freeform creativity—I need structure, boundaries, a clear set of lines to color inside. But then, in the middle of that project, I discovered contemporary botanical art.
It took my breath away.
The detail, the vibrancy, the way life seemed to burst from the paper—it was like preserving nature at its most perfect, filled with memories and meaning. I was captivated.
I took a free class and painted a pear. That was it. That was all it took. From that moment on, I was all in. I can’t imagine a life without art now—without flowers, beauty, and the incredible community of botanical artists.
Since then, I’ve branched out, painting birds, dogs, and even experimenting with colored pencils, which I love for animal portraits. Currently, I’m working on a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in pencil.
My work has been featured in a few markets, and I’ve been accepted into two juried exhibitions at the Logan Fine Arts Gallery. In the second show, I was honored to receive an Honorable Mention for my Galaxy Magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’). Putting myself out there is a challenge—I struggle with social anxiety and often plan to enter more exhibitions but then hesitate at the last moment.
This year, I’m planning to submit a piece to the 28th Annual International Botanical Art Exhibition in Ross, CA—my first-ever juried botanical entry. It’s a daunting step. Botanical art juries are notoriously strict, and imposter syndrome is very real. Unlike many botanical artists, I have no formal training and no certifications, which has made me hesitant to submit in the past. If I’m accepted, it will be a major milestone for me.
One of my proudest moments came in April 2024, when master botanical artist Margaret Best asked to feature my Red Double Tulip (Tulipa) in her instructional e-booklet on painting reds. I was thrilled, especially since I hadn’t studied under her. Red is notoriously difficult in watercolor, so being included in her October 2024 publication was an incredible honor.
I have big ideas and so much I want to accomplish—I’m excited for what this new year will bring!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth is a relative term. Art itself is never truly smooth—at least not for me. As a rigid perfectionist, I struggle with freeform creativity. If I’m working on a study and can’t quite get the color or texture right, it can be incredibly discouraging.
Take Galaxy Magnolia, for example. It was one of my most challenging studies, and honestly, I wasn’t even sure I liked it when I submitted it for exhibition. The only reason I did was because of the way the light filtered through the petals—something I had noticed jurors in a non-botanical show were drawn to. Other people loved the piece, which made me realize the issue wasn’t the artwork itself—it was my own self-doubt.
The color for the light reflection was a nightmare. I thought I had the perfect mixes until I laid them down beyond just a test swatch. I’d remix, repaint, and test swatches again and again. I had to walk away for long stretches before coming back with fresh eyes. Contemporary botanical art demands accuracy—there’s no room for guessing or personal interpretation when it comes to color and detail. The only creative freedom lies in composition. You can make slight distortions, but the subject still needs to be scientifically precise.
One of my biggest challenges in becoming a professional artist is, well… me. My anxiety holds me back more than anything else. I’ve wanted to approach local stores and nurseries about carrying my work, but every time I go in with the intention of asking, I freeze. Just walking into stores is difficult for me—putting myself in an awkward, high-stakes situation feels overwhelming. The same goes for submitting to exhibitions. My studies are vastly different from most artwork in Utah, which makes me second-guess whether they’ll be accepted at all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work has been featured in a few markets, and I’ve been accepted into two juried exhibitions at the Logan Fine Arts Gallery. In the second show, I was honored to receive an Honorable Mention for my Galaxy Magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’).
One of my proudest moments came in April 2024, when master botanical artist Margaret Best asked to feature my Red Double Tulip (Tulipa) in her instructional e-booklet on painting reds. I was thrilled, especially since I hadn’t studied under her. Red is notoriously difficult in watercolor, so being included in her October 2024 publication was an incredible honor.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I just got my website back up and running! It’s still a work in progress, but it features a gallery and is open for commissions for both botanical and pet portraits. I also have a small Etsy shop where I sell art prints and greeting cards, along with links to my social media.
Website: JessicaWalkerArt.com
Etsy: JessicaWalkerFineArt.Etsy.com
IG: @JessicaWalker.FineArt
FB: JessicaWalkerFineArt
Contact Info:
- Website: https://JessicaWalkerArt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicawalker.fineart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaWalkerArt/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JessicaWalkerFineArt?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
