Today we’d like to introduce you to PJ Svejda.
Hi PJ, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2020 I moved to Mount Dora as a single mom with a small child. That was the beginning of Covid. I established myself as a working Artist and Art Teacher. At the beginning of 2022 I went out on a leap of Faith and rented an empty storefront here in Mount Dora. That is where Studio art farm began. Today it is a thriving art studio and Artist collective. The Studio is home to 10 artists who all share Gallery space and the main space to use as a Studio. We are filled with classes and events. We teach children as young as two all the way up to adults. The studio was always meant to be a friendly loving environment, open to all. A place where we can bring our children and our pets. Community is a big part of the studio. We love to nurture new artist and showcase more established artists. We work with the community to host Art in the Ally ( an artist market) on the second Friday of every month. The Mount Dora location is only part one of the overall dream. The dream for Studio Art farm is to have a literal farm. I want nothing more than two live with the land, rescue animals and grow organic food. The farm edition will be a retreat for Artist to come and learn and stay and benefit from a peaceful environment..
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?
Selling art is hard. Running a small business in a new town is also hard. I have definitely had to get creative and figure out how to generate enough income to keep the Studio going. I had no prior knowledge of running a business so it’s definitely been on the job training for the past few years. Now I have a smooth balance, and I know the ebbs and flows of the seasons. While money is great that has never been the driving force. The community hub and the relationships built have been what keep me motivated through the rough times.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a fine artist. An oil painter mostly. I would say my work is known for the use of female figures and animals in natural settings. My paintings tell narratives of coexistence between humans and nature. The female figures are often represented as a sense of spirit for the environment. Lately I’ve been really driven to represent native Florida. As I watch the overdevelopment take place I feel urged to stand up and protect it. I use my paintings as an opportunity to engage the public with our natural space and hopefully make people fall in love with it so they are more inclined to protect it. I would call my style classical surrealism.
What matters most to you?
Protecting nature matters the most to me. Nature is my sense of calm and peace. That’s why the farm is so important. I want to preserve a piece of land that can be a sanctuary not just for people, but for animals too. I am a huge dog lover and intend to have a dog rescue as well as a large animal sanctuary. I believe that Art and creation go handed hand and through my art I will do my best to protect it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studioartfarm.com and www.pjsvejda.com
- Instagram: @studioartfarm @pjsvejda
