Jocelyn Doeksen: Artist

Jocelyn Doeksen is a senior at the Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences. Jocelyn’s art was chosen as this year’s ZooRun tote bag image. She has already seen many successes – and rejections – as a young artist, but views it all as part of her creative process.

TK: Tell us about the ZooRun tote bag art competition? How did it feel to win that?

Jocelyn: I found out about the zoo tote bag competition on a random weekday. I had just gotten into my oil painting class and was scrolling through the zoo’s Instagram. (They had very recently had a baby giraffe born and were posting loads of adorable photos.) On the zoo’s social media was an announcement about the bag contest. I dropped everything I was doing that second and asked my teacher if I could work on the contest. Once I had finished my art piece and submitted it, I could not wait to hear back; it was the most exciting competition I had entered during the year thus far.

I didn’t know I won the competition until the week of the ZooRun! I had just gotten to class and was rather tired. I had just begun working when my principal, Dr. Dan, and a representative from Country Financial walked in with a huge sign to surprise me.

I was stoked! I love the zoo. It is one of my favorite places, and I was in heaven after the race seeing people walking around with a bag with my art on it!

TK: What other art competitions have you won? What does winning these competitions mean to you as an artist and as a student?

Jocelyn: I’ve entered far more competitions and lost than the ones I’ve won or been displayed in. But every chance means something to me as an artist. These accomplishments will be on my resume for years to come and will help my resume stand out in a crowd. It helps people take me more seriously and gives me chances at professional work while still a student. For example, I was a student artist for Sunnydayz Mural Festival last year, and due to the mural I painted that year, I was able to work professionally painting an airplane mural in a private hangar at Pogue Airport in Sand Springs.

TK: You mentioned that you have art in two museums. Tell me about that?

Jocelyn: I’ve been displayed in two big museums this year. One was Mabee-Gerrer in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and the other was Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas. It is such an honor to see people admire my hard work. Besides those two museums, I’ve been displayed at Mayfest in the “AHHA” now owned by Tulsa University and currently have some work at TCC for their Curiosity exhibition downtown.

TK: What type of art do you most enjoy doing?

Jocelyn: I enjoy any form of traditional art best. Particularly acrylic or oil painting; however, I have been experimenting with embroidery on my canvas, and that is quickly becoming my favorite.

I also love printmaking. I’ve had the opportunity to work with the TU printmaking lab for the last two years at Kravis art camp. There, I got to meet Michelle Martin, who is one of the most incredible art teachers I have ever met. She taught such a complex process and made every student able to replicate unique and original art. Some of the prints I made in her class are my best sellers at markets. I even have one at the cat cafe here in Tulsa.

TK: Have you always made art?

Jocelyn: I’ve been making art since I can remember. I cannot think of a time when I wasn’t. I have artwork dating back to when I was 4 years old, painting with my great-grandmother.

TK: Who do you admire as artists and why, and do you have mentors?

Jocelyn: I admire many different artists, all in different media. My current favorite is Gustave Doré, a printmaker in the 1880s. Though you might not know his name, you have most likely seen his art if you have read Dante’s trilogy. The most famous illustrations for his books are prints done by Doré. Or maybe you are Catholic, like me, and have seen his works of religious art. His art is meticulous and striking. His composition is masterful. I hope one day to be even a fraction as detailed as he was.

I have had many mentors throughout my life so far. My first was my great-grandmother, an art teacher, and the first person to paint with me. Then, for a good part of my life, it was Bob Ross. I had a lovely mentor during my Sunnydayz Mural Festival. Her name is Delia Miller! She taught me so much about murals and how to be a working artist. Finally, my teachers, Ms. Foshee, Mr. Carnes and Michelle Martin. Every one of them taught me valuable art skills.

TK: What do you feel are the most important things that young artists need to develop their talent?

Jocelyn: Keep creating art. Practice makes perfect, and some will have a eureka moment where everything clicks; others won’t. The key is discipline and the continued love of art.

TK: What advice would you give to other young people who are pursuing art?

Jocelyn: Take time to think if you want to do art as a career. Doing it as a career will mean many sacrifices and the possibility that art will not bring you joy. You will be creating art that sometimes is not what you want to be working on. There may be much less time for personal art.

TK: You will be going to Quartz Mountain. What does this mean to you as an artist? What do you hope to accomplish while there?

Jocelyn: It means a lot to me in the sense that I can do it. I can make it as an artist. Quartz is the most competitive art institute in Oklahoma and is one-of-a-kind for this area of the U.S. Hundreds of students are applying for just 25 spots. It took three years for me to get into Quartz, and the process of applying alone can help develop your skills as an artist. From creating three highly complex pieces to a detailed still life in just one hour. Quartz will hopefully help refine my skills as an artist and smooth out some of my rougher spots.

TK: What are your future plans?

Jocelyn: I plan to attend the University of Tulsa this fall and get a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. After that, I hope to get hired on at a publishing company as a children’s book artist.

TulsaKids: Do you have a fun fact about yourself that you can share?

Jocelyn: I have done a lot of sports, but my current sport is fencing! I fence here in town at Tulsa Fencing Alliance with head coach Daniel Diep! It is such a joy and honestly an amazing sport with a lovely community. I have gained so many lifelong friendships from it.