Jackie Flavio

Year of birth: I was born in 1991.
Where do you live: I live in Tampa, Florida with my wife, daughter, and our two dogs.
Your education: I have a BFA in painting and printmaking from the University of South Florida.
Describe your art in three words: Whimsical, Exploratory, Narrative.
Your discipline: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Collage. All in all, I am a mixed media visual artist.
www.jackieflavioart.com | Instagram

Can you share a bit about your journey as an artist? How did you get started in illustration and painting?

For as long as I can remember I have sought out opportunities and experiences that pull the creativity out of me. Some of my earliest memories are of fabricating complex worlds by eliciting the help of toys, construction paper, sequins, and sometimes our family dog. I began drawing and painting around 6 years old and haven’t stopped since. It quickly became very clear to me, even as a child, that creating is a calling for me, something I am born to do. 

What childhood stories or movies had the most significant impact on your artistic style?

While there were countless stories that made a lasting impact on me, the most notable ones are the picture books that were read to me as a child. The illustrations in these narratives became my first experiences with art and creativity. The imagery contained within these stories told epic tales of adventure, friendship, love, and self-discovery. 

One story that has left an everlasting mark on me creatively is “A Chair for My Mother” by Vera Williams. This story is told from the perspective of a young girl that longs for her mother to have a comfy space to rest after her long days at work.The girl, her mother, and grandmother, save up for a chair by collecting their extra coins in a glass jar, every day, until they have enough to buy the perfect floral armchair. Adorned with quilt-like borders that represent the events taking place on each page, and a loose style filled with expressive color and texture, the artwork in this book excited me and made the story truly come to life. It was through children’s books like these that I began to see the power of images and their ability to form new worlds.

Some of my other early childhood inspirations include stories and illustrations by Eric Carle and Lisa Frank. More recently, I have been drawn to the narrative work of Sha’an d’Anthes and the whimsical mixed media style of Petr Horacek.

Your work often features playful narratives with charming animal characters. How do you come up with these stories? 

While my stories, characters, and ideas can come from many different places, most of them come to me through my daily sketchbook practice. It is in this disciplined experience of play that I feel most free and able to delight in a mindset of experimentation. During my sketchbook practice I write, read books, collect imagery from various magazines and brochures, sketch from observation and pictures, paint with tea, draw with my non-dominant hand, collage found materials together, anything to keep the mind loose and in a state of free-flowing creativity, without judgment.

Animals have a way of reminding us to live in the present and not take life too seriously. While animals are so intriguing to me they are also a great mystery. It is because of this, their genuine heart, and playful spirit, that I am inspired to invent stories about them. Stories that make them more relatable, more accessible, but also simple, sweet, and full of joy. 

What role does fantasy play in your art, and how do you think it impacts the viewer? 

My whimsical worlds exist in a place between fantasy and reality. They seek to bring the viewer in with familiar elements like textures, eyes, plants, trees, and other objects. Once the viewer connects with something memorable, they can then delight in the absurdities of personified animals and fantastical landscapes. 

How has your experience as an art teacher influenced your own work and creative process? 

My experience as an art teacher was one of the most rewarding and challenging seasons of my life. It has allowed me to stretch and grow as an artist in a myriad of ways. Inspiring young people to keep creativity in their lives encouraged me to make creating a priority. Engaging in painting, drawing, and any other art discipline is often a difficult task for many people as it forces them to put aside their fears and self-doubt to simply create for the sake of creating. Instilling a love for creativity without the drama of self-criticism for my students, enabled me to find the lightness, ease, and joy of making for myself.

Being a teacher puts me in the position to inspire people to find their stride, to create because it’s fun and not because you are trying to prove something to anyone. While I have recently left the school system and I am no longer a traditional art teacher, teaching will still remain an important part of my identity going forward. I intend to include art education in my artistic practice once again in the near future.

What advice do you give to your students who aspire to be artists? 

For my students seeking to be artists, writers, musicians, and any other form of creative individual, I tell them to practice every day, and to never lose sight of the passion they have for creating. For it is in our creative moments where we are fully alive, fully present, and fully able to tap into our own imperfect power. This state of free-flowing ideas and action is where the magic of being human resides.