Today we’d like to introduce you to Elissa Jofre
Hi Elissa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in the central coast of Chile, and started to paint when I was 4 years old, I learned the word artist and I instantly knew I wanted to be one. I studied Fine Arts at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso.
On 2017 I had the opportunity to visit my aunt and uncle in Park city, UT and spend the winter with them, after that I came back as a J1 every winter till 2020, on March all the flights were cancel because of Covid and I got stuck in this country. After that my life changed forever.
I started to paint more during the pandemic and on 2021 I was still very shy but I offered my art to my favorite coffee shop in Park City named Ritual Chocolate, they were so kind to me and they featured my art for a year and a half till they moved their coffee shop to Heber City. I had my first sales there and connected with amazing people. thanks to that I had the courage to dream bigger. Today I’m an art instructor for the Kimball Art Center, I’m featured at Create PC gallery and The Montage at Park City, and currently working on more paintings for the Kimball Art Festival.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were a lot of struggles, my family and I were scared of an art career so I decided to study design instead, that year I met my two best friends till today but I realized I didn’t like that career so I took the courage and switched to Fine Arts.
Then on my First semester of Art School I had problems with my oil paintings teacher, i didn’t like her attitude towards people that didn’t have enough money to buy the best art supplies so i stopped assisting to her class, but then I showed up to the last exam of the semester with something I made the night before (terrible project) and she failed me, she told me i didn’t know how to paint and that I was lazy and inconsistent. Of course those words destroyed me at first but then they burned like a fire that became motivation to prove her wrong, she did help me to realize I was lacking on discipline and I proved myself I knew how to paint and decided to became and art instructor so I could be different from the teacher I had in art school.
Then I worked as a server for over two years in Park City and I absolutely hated it, I went home so many nights and cried myself to sleep but I was terrified of leaving thinking I was not gonna be able to pay rent without that job.
Once I was out I realized there’s opportunities everywhere and that life is way better when you’re doing what you love.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Im an oil painter and art instructor , I’m obsessed with Color theory and i spend a lot of my time learning about it and trying to re create colors I see in nature and the sky. I’m proud I kept going even tho it wasn’t a smooth road, I’m proud I did believe in myself when i was a kid, a teenager and an adult.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’m a true believer things come to you when you’re ready and there’s space in your life for it.
Networking it’s beautiful if you can really listen to people and their experiences. It’s all about being kind and really caring for what the other is sharing with you. Lately I’ve met amazing people and I’m grateful I get to connect with such sweet and kind people, what works really well it’s to show yourself without a pose, just be your true self and everything will be how it should be.
Pricing:
- 20
- 250
- 450
- 1750
- 2750
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Emily Sorensen
Carla good
Benjamin Hoerst
