Life & Work with Jessica Hewitt

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Hewitt.

Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Hi, I’m Jess! I am the Creative Director at a company called Wedge, which makes video-interviewing software to make the hiring process easier for companies and candidates alike. I started here actually as their UI Designer in 2021, and have since become the Creative Director. But before that, I did social media work at various companies.

I’ve been really passionate about the intersection of tech and art forever; it has always been a part of my personal hobbies; whether I was diving into photography, digital art, video editing, designing HTML themes for Tumblr, and more recently, exploring 3D art.

A year ago when I first dove into 3D space, and it really transformed my life. It was one of those opportunities to learn that I couldn’t pass up. It was also an art space that felt really intimidating at first; since it was one I assumed only big studios could do. Navigating that path as an individual artist was really exciting because I quickly realized that as long as I was willing to learn, I’d be able to pick it up with time. And I have!

I hope to eventually do some freelance work in the 3D space, but for now, my art has become a kind of second brand for me to just explore my imagination freely. I share YouTube tutorials for some of my work, as well as post different resources and pieces on my Instagram, and Gumroad shop. The community is honestly the best part. Meeting artists, learning from them, and even just getting excited about the digital world is something I wouldn’t pass up on ever.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think the road has been surprising; with an occasional pothole here or there. I’ve been really lucky to kind of discover my passions during my time growing up and in school – but I know that doesn’t always happen easily for everyone. The biggest challenge I probably had to face was the lack of professional experience right after school, in trying to find a job!

Other than that, putting yourself out there, and knowing you may be judged for pursuing ‘the arts’ is a unique struggle in and of itself. There is so much you get to explore in creative fields, and yet you still get kind of boiled down into how much money you make or how successful you are. And even if you are successful in the arts – people sort of just assume you’re a struggling artist.

But perceptions are something we all face in our lives! It’s better to feel content in where you’re personally at than depending on others for validation. Nonetheless, my road has been steady. I get to create art often, and I work with so many great people, for a product I truly support. I couldn’t ask for more, honestly!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I mentioned before that I’ve recently learned 3D art over the past year.

That may mean something different to everybody. I like to refer to myself as a ‘3D Generalist’; my work is usually more abstract renders where cloth is floating in the air, or otherworldly things are constrained by invisible objects; or even moody character pieces that make you wonder what strange land they’re from. It’s really exciting getting to reach beyond the real that we know in daily life and explore what else is possible, through art.

I started a page called VirtuallyVisual (my Instagram and Youtube handles) where I initially planned to just share my progress as I learned, but it’s honestly evolved into a digital portfolio! I cringe a bit looking at some of my original posts, but at the same time, it’s rewarding to see how I’ve progressed in my skill sets.

My work even got featured on Maxon’s gallery page, and the startup screen for their 3D software I use, called ‘Cinema 4D’. That was probably the biggest highlight over the last year. I never would’ve guessed that I would’ve been able to share my art with the company I looked to so often for learning, and inspiration. But here we are! Your creative journey can surprise you.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Pinterest is one of my biggest go-to’s when I’m creating. There’s so much readily available on there to find the right mood you’re going for, whether you’re gathering ideas for a web design, typography look, 3D render, etc. Especially if you combine it with listening to a great live playlist on YouTube – the best combo you could ask for. Inspiration comes easy in those moments.

Beyond that though – I’ve used a couple of online courses from sites like Domestika and Udemy, from a few of my favorite digital artists; and that is huge. Even if they use programs you’re already familiar with, in my experience you may just learn a handful of great new techniques to speed up your art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://itsjess.super.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtuallyvisual/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-hewitt123/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VirtuallyVisual