Sometimes it really does pay to not only think, but also work outside the box.

Jess Hess is full proof of that, as evidenced by her piece of artwork that recently won the Best in Category for “Drawing and Print making” Art Exhibition at the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for Free and Accepted Masons, Philadelphia.

The Embodying Masonic Values Art Competition 2020 was held through The Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania, and is where Hess, of Lehighton, won the Best in Category for her Drawing and Printmaking: “Then, Now, Forever.”

For the 2019 Lehighton Area High School graduate, art is something Hess has taken to ever since she can remember.

“I’ve always been into art, ever since I could hold a crayon,” Hess said. “It wasn’t until about 2016 that I started getting into it at a more professional level.”

Hess explained how she was able to work her way up to her current level.

“I just kept practicing,” said Hess, 20. “And I had an amazing art teacher, Mike Reenock; he was really the foundation of helping me get out there.”

From there, Hess said it was all about trusting her abilities.

“I just started branching out and got more comfortable,” she said. “I made a couple of contacts and acquaintances in the music world and art world.”

As of this year, Hess said she now officially calls herself a full-time artist.

“My commissions have become much more,” she said. “I just do what I love.”

Hess said she specializes in portraits, and that her common mediums are graphite for black and white and acrylic painting.

“I love drawing musicians that I’ve fallen in love with; music is the reason I’ve gotten to where I am with my artwork,” she said. “I started drawing off (the band) Kiss, and from there I just kept going; I knew what I wanted to do, portraits, because I fell in love with them.”

Hess said she found out about the competition through her father, Richard Hess, who brought one of his masonic magazines home for her that spoke about masonic values.

“That was hard for me kind of to think about,” she said. “I looked at examples provided through the magazines.”

Hess said she chose to showcase masons past and present in order to convey how freemasonry has continued over hundreds of years.

“I found these would be best to put together with my skill set,” she said. “I found it would be much better to perform past to present, and show how masonry has expanded.”

Hess said she decided to go with historical, charitable and architectural.

“At the bottom of the piece are three Shriners interacting with a young girl who benefits from their work, highlighting one of the charitable efforts Freemasons commit to,” she said. “The background of the drawing features the Grand Lodge of PA, the lodge which held the exhibition.”

Hess said that while it took time to learn of her showing, she was confident in her work.

“Part of me pretty much knew I was going to win at least Best in Category, because I had my art teacher judge it how he would, and he had no critiques,” she said. “Even if I didn’t win, I figured my piece would at least sell.”

Hess explained her reaction upon learning she won the category.

“I was ecstatic; this was the first time I had ever entered into a bigger competition,” she said. “To be able to beat out other older artists and professionals, it boosted my confidence.”

Hess shared some words of advice for those who may one day be interested in the field of art.

“It’s all about practice; even just three years ago, my work wasn’t as realistic,” she said. “It took me about six years; it’s all just about practice and working outside the box.”

Hess said her success proves that hard work does in fact, pay off.

“I just like the bit of playing around,” she said. “It definitely falls into place, eventually.”

Since 2018, the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania’s “Embodying Masonic Values” open art competition has provided an opportunity for the art community to explore Masonic values through art.

Cash prizes of $200 were awarded to winners in five categories: Oil, Three-dimensional, Drawing and Printmaking, Water-Based Medium and Digital Imagery. All artwork is also available for sale.

To purchase the Masonic drawing, interested buyers can visit https://pamasonictemple.org/open-art-competition.

To order custom pieces or to inquire about prices, readers can email jesshess19@gmail.com.