JASSiEUO, Artist and Photographer, on Emotions as a Foundation for Her Creative Journey

JASSiEUO is an artist and professional self-taught photographer. She photographs people and products—incorporating different mediums such as texture and paint—for in-studio and on location projects.

Check out the interview I conducted with JASSiEUO to find out more about her thoughts on promoting emotion through photography; what she experimented with before settling upon art that consisted of a minimalistic and emotional foundation; how she, in her own words, lets "color and texture influence" find her; the difficulties she's experienced along her journey; and how she's come to live her dreams fully, everyday.

Jasmine: Hi, Jassie, thank you for doing this interview. You are an artist and professional self-taught photographer. You shoot people and products—incorporating different mediums such as texture and paint—for in-studio and on location projects. Tell me some things I might not know about you.

JASSiEUO: Something people wouldn't know about me-- I'm really good at doing hair [laughs]. It's like my hidden talent I don't really talk about often. I also paint in my spare time as well [smile]. I also can dance (like modern dance). I'm a bit rusty, but in Highschool I was on the advanced dance team [laughs], [which is] probably responsible for my movement in front of the camera.

Jasmine: When I look at your art, your photography, I sense that you want the person viewing it to “feel something.” But, really, if I start from the beginning of it, the subjects on the other side of the lens—and I mean on every moment captured— give off such a strong aura of emotion; there’s a glow, and that glow touches whomever is in view of your work. I believe those subjects begin the relationship and stir the emotions of ultimately what the observer will feel. Even the objects have the same effect. I believe this meets your intention of, in your own words, bringing “the viewer into the artist[s’] world,” especially by utilizing, “a minimalistic visual display exuding emotion.” Jassie, tell me why you feel it’s important for people who view your work to interact with it in this manner.

JASSiEUO: I think it's important to feel in this life. I enjoy tangible exchanges, and when creating I want to give that through sight as well. I believe it can bring a sense of calming or closure or even drive someone mad. But that's okay, expressing our emotions aligns ourselves with our own beauty.

I want people to see the light I see when I photograph them.

Jasmine: As I mentioned, even the objects find their way into personal space. I’m wherever I imagine those objects being, doing lots of internal exploration and understanding of my thoughts and feelings. How do you choose which “objects'' will work in a shoot?

JASSiEUO: Sometimes I know exactly what I need, and that may spark from something I've seen walking down the street or read, or even [had] in conversation with someone. But sometimes--and the best times-- things find me. That's when I feel best and most connected with my work.

Jasmine: What makes the person, subjects, and/or objects on the other side of the lens be so open, be so free?

JASSiEUO: It's all about how you capture things. I believe photography is a feeling.

Knowing when the shutter should release is a decision made based on a feeling only you [feel]. I think that's what makes it free: there's no one deciding the overall image but you.

Jasmine: Before you settled upon using this technique for the basis of your work, what was your journey like getting here? Tell me about the type of works and foundations you experimented with before settling upon art that consisted of a minimalistic and emotional foundation.

JASSiEUO: Before my work looked how it looks today, I was really into black and white which maybe sparked my interest in emotion. I think black and white images exude the perfect mix of emotion and edge. From there I decided color: I wanted color to be controlled as well as the image. I plan when I create, but I also leave room for mistakes. I became a big fan of texture shooting in black and white as well. Over the years my texture in images has increased tremendously (as far as keeping things clean).

Jasmine: Keeping the subject on emotion, it is obvious that your work is emotional. And emotional work is a pull and push, a give and take kind of set up. Jassie, before you shoot, before you produce another work of art, how do you prepare? Tell me how you set your internal and external atmosphere.

JASSiEUO: Most of my work is based off of experience, so the creative ideas start there. I normally create visual webs for larger projects to collect my thoughts. And follow up with ToDoList which are really helpful with getting things done. As far as color and texture influence, I allow it to find me.

I still enjoy the portion of art that is magical, [more spiritual], and not so planned.

Meaning, things find you.

Jasmine: Tell me about the art that has leaned into you. The ones you’ve carried beyond the shoot or installation.

JASSiEUO: The art that leans into me most would be my earlier projects such as "shady lady" and "distort." Both [are] very emotionally draining, but executed my feelings at that point in time. [During this period], I was going through finding my process and methods of work. I was up night and day editing and writing and even painting. Just pouring all my emotions in my work.

Jasmine: Sometimes, our personal experiences, whether good or bad, help to pave the path we walk on (and eventually learn to accept as our own.) Tell me about some of the difficulties you’ve experienced along the way

JASSiEUO: Along my journey I would say the most difficult thing would be losing friends as I grow.

I learned that people aren't always on the same path as you; sometimes it's best to part ways to avoid [the] disruption of each other's paths.

Sometimes the people I want with me aren't there with me. I've grown a lot wiser [over] the years, and I can feel when I'm right where I need to be.

Jasmine: Jassie, tell me one word that would describe your journey thus far.

JASSiEUO: Resilient. "Early on a friend of mine would always compliment my resilience. After coming this far I truly believe it now. I've gone from working a local job pushing carts to working and living my dreams completely, day in [and] day out. And, all because I kept going."

Jasmine: Are there any current or future projects you’d like to talk about?

JASSiEUO: I like to surprise people but I am working on a visual show. I'll leave it there [laughs].

Jasmine: Where can you be found online/off-line?

JASSiEUO: Most of my work is online on my website: www.jassieuo.com . [My] social tags [for] IG and twitter [are] @jassieuo. I also recently re-activated my tumblr (jassieuobehindthelens.tumblr.com) account for more exclusive bts and day to day life blogging experiences. Offline, an image of mines is painted as a mural on Chicago's west side. It's on a youth center.

Jasmine: Thank you, Jassie!

Interview originally published June 2, 2017

JASSiEUO, Artist and Photographer