Jessica Archer
Jessica Archer is a Canadian drawing artist renowned for her lifelike portraits inspired by comic art. Blending fine art portraiture with contemporary comic illustration, Jessica creates realistic depictions of beloved characters using diverse mediums such as pencil, graphite, charcoal powders, and colored pencils. While her formal education provides a strong foundation, Jessica's expertise in realism and portraiture is largely self-taught, reflecting her dedication to her craft.
With over 19 group exhibitions across the United States and Canada, Jessica’s work has gained widespread recognition. Notably, her portrait of Patrick Stewart was featured on popular media outlets like SYFY Wire to promote the hit series Picard. Her commitment to her art has earned her accolades, including the People’s Choice Award for Fine Art from Beaux Arts Brampton.
As a certified affiliate for Chartpak artist brands and a member of the Koh-I-Noor drawing team, Jessica actively promotes creativity and artistic expression. Beyond her professional affiliations, she is deeply invested in supporting fellow artists. Her latest project, ArtChik, aims to bring awareness and support to women in comics while inspiring creativity in girls of all ages.
In her artwork, Jessica’s passion for comic books and their influence on contemporary pop culture is evident. Her pencil drawings depict comic book characters with realism against a negative space backdrop, inviting viewers to focus on intricate details. Through graphite and charcoal powders, pencils, and blending techniques, she brings characters to life, making them tangible and relatable. Jessica's portraits aim to bridge cultural, age, and gender divides, celebrating comic art's universality and its ability to evoke joy and nostalgia. She seeks to unite people from all backgrounds, evoking shared childhood memories and inspiring wonder through her art.
www.jessicaarcherartworks.com
What initially drew you to art?
From a young age, I’ve been fascinated by the act of creation— from the simple joys of coloring to the detailed world of drawing. Growing up with dyslexia, academic pursuits often posed significant challenges and occasional frustrations. However, within the world of art and drawing, I found comfort and a sense of belonging. Art became my sanctuary, a place where the ability to understand felt natural and effortless. My journey in art is evidence of my passion for creativity, steady dedication to improvement, and my commitment to personal growth. Each pencil stroke or line on the paper presented a challenge to solve—a type of problem-solving that resonated with me. Through art, I not only found an outlet for self-expression but also a means of overcoming obstacles and finding the positives in my learning disability.
What elements of your life have ended up becoming a part of your art?
Art reflects things from an artist's life, like their feelings, experiences, and what's around them. It can include hobbies, culture, important events, places, and everyday things. For me, it’s about my hobbies, personal growth, and the tools I use. I’ve loved reading and collecting comic books for as long as I can remember, and that love has become a part of my art. Learning new drawing techniques helps bring the characters I adore and grew up with to life. It’s all about constantly learning and trying new things, which has helped me make my portraits more realistic. Even how I use my drawing tools has become just as important as the art itself.
What about your practice do you find most fulfilling and energizing?
The most fulfilling aspect of my art practice is the creative expression it allows and the personal connections it encourages. Observing the sketches evolve from ideas to realistic portraits, from the initial use of tools to the final piece, is very gratifying. Seeing the reactions of my audience adds another layer of fulfillment, particularly when their favorite childhood memories are reignited by the lifelike portrayal of these beloved characters. The process of learning new drawing techniques and materials is also satisfying as it allows me to put life into these nostalgic portraits. It’s rewarding to see viewers reminisce and experience the same joy and nostalgia that I do. Creating art that can also serve as a welcomed escape from the negativity in the world, offering a brief pause. The engagement with the art and comic community, along with the positive feedback, are also sources of energy and passion for me. These interactions fuel my enthusiasm and drive to continue exploring and creating within the art world.
Tell us about your experience of getting to where you are now. What has been the most important thing you’ve learned?
Keep going! This journey has been a mix of passion, persistence, adaptability, learning, making mistakes, and taking the good with the bad. Everything serves a purpose, and some of the biggest things I’ve learned are to keep learning and to be authentic—be yourself! The value of engaging authentically with my audience by sharing my process, responding to comments, and incorporating feedback has been crucial. I’ve been fortunate to have built a small community around the art. Community is everything in art and business! We have the same interests, nostalgia, and pain points. With learning—that goes for everything from your skills, social media, to your art business. The art world is ever-evolving, and the ability to learn and adapt is just as important as the artistic skills.
How has community impacted your artistic practice?
Community is everything! The community around my art has been the foundation of my practice. It’s provided not just support and inspiration, but also valuable feedback that has shaped the direction of my work. Engaging with my supporters has created meaningful dialogue, connections, and relationships. They have brought significant collaborations, mentorships, projects, and have helped push my creative boundaries. They’ve supported my career and have been there in every part of this path. They are not just an audience, but an integral part of this artistic journey—my journey.
