We could not love Jennifer Walker's collection for our opening show any more than we already do! We had the opportunity to talk to Jennifer about everything from her creative life and what inspires her, to what kind of music she listens to in the studio. In the end we learned that the artist is just as amazing as her art. Read on to learn more about Jennifer Walker!
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
When I was in early elementary school, I was convinced I couldn’t draw or do art. But I had an incredible art teacher, Mrs. Talley, who told me that everyone was an artist and helped me believe I was able to be creative. Art class then became my time at school. Throughout the rest of my childhood, I always gravitated toward art and creative projects. I loved sketching houses, my sister and I scrapbooked together, I took every art class offered in middle school and high school, and I started dabbling in painting. But it wasn’t until I had kids that I painted in a more intentional and consistent way.
I now teach art to preschoolers a couple of times a month, and I tell them the same thing that my art teacher told me. Every time I visit them, we say these two things before we start our lesson: I am God’s workmanship, and I am an artist!
How do you want people to feel when they look at your art?
I want people to feel that I’m adding beauty to the world. That I’m bringing some amount of order to chaos. This has always been one of my favorite attributes of God. That He makes unlovely things beautiful and chaotic things orderly and purposeful. I hope that when people see my art, they have that sense—of something beautiful and purposeful even in the midst of a broken and often messy world. Art has been that for me. Beauty that breaks through brokenness. And that gives me hope. It is a hope that reminds me of something far bigger and better than I can imagine.
What inspires you?
Interior designers (Mark D. Sikes, Caroline Gidiere, Sister Parish, Paloma Contreras, Amy Berry, and Miles Redd to name a few), antique stores, coffee table books, stationery shops, bookstores, famous artists (Mark Rothko, Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, Paule Marrot, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, and Willem deKoonig to name a few), visiting art museums, traveling, flowers (ALL the flowers), books and movies that have a distinct sense of place and are beautifully described/depicted, and the people I love the most—especially my four precious children with all of their liveliness, laughter, and joy.
What is most rewarding about painting?
I truly love creating a collection of work. I love thinking through a group of pieces and how the colors and compositions work together to create a cohesive body of art that together makes a more defining statement. I know its silly because the pieces are rarely purchased together, but there is something so rewarding and gratifying about this process. It kind of makes me feel like a fashion designer who thinks through an entire collection and how each piece, despite its uniqueness, complements the others. And how the collection as a whole makes a creative statement. Each piece is beautiful and special on its own, but together they are even more impactful.
Biggest lesson you’ve learned on your creative journey?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned on on my creative journey so far is to walk my own road. It is tempting, especially in the age of social media, to compare my success, ability, potential, and notoriety to other artists. Daily, I get on Instagram and am met with the work of the many artists I follow and am tempted to become discouraged because their work is stunning and being featured in a magazine or because they got accepted into an art show I’d love to be a part of or because they have a lot more followers than I do. I fall victim to comparing, but am getting much better about reminding myself that where I’m at with my art is exactly where I should be at right now—particularly as I’m in the season of having four young children. My husband’s precious grandmother reminded me earlier this year that the pace at which my art business is growing is perfect for me because its allowing me to soak up the journey, actually enjoy painting and being creative (which is what it is all about anyway), and be devoted to raising our kids while they’re still young. So, maybe I’ll have the kind of success some of these artists have or maybe I won’t. No matter what, I’m overwhelmingly grateful that I get to use my God-given creative ability to make beautiful things, help others enjoy beautiful things, and be at home with my kids in this precious but fleeting years of childhood. And those things matter far more to me than worldly success.
Favorite quote or mantra about art/creativity?
Not really a quote about art/creativity, but this one is one of my favorites: Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take accomplishing it. The time will pass anyway.
What was the last a-ha moment you had when creating?
When I’ve created abstract pieces in the past, I have started with a very loose idea of a color palette and even composition and have just let my painting lead me to the end result. I like painting in this manner, but after doing so, I often leave my studio feeling frustrated because I don’t like the direction or don’t feel like I even have one. Painting intuitively serves a purpose for me in different seasons. But I’ve felt like I’ve needed more direction and a plan—particularly as someone with a type A personality. Recently, as I’ve been creating my botanical pieces, I’ve been using a limited color palette—primarily choosing two complementary colors. I play around with color swatches and sketches before I ever even open a tube of paint. It makes the process feel easy, sometimes even too easy. My a-ha moment has been that it is okay if it feels easy. The planning isn’t easy, and I’m putting in the diligent time to create beautiful pieces. But the process feels easy because it is flowing for me, and that is okay! It might not always feel this way. I might feel stuck in the future, or I might get bored. But for now, I’m loving this!
How has creating helped you get through a difficult time?
Creating, specifically, painting has helped me in many difficult seasons. It has been a comforting and reliable companion when life has been unpredictable or when I’ve been in a season of change. It has given me an outlet and sense of accomplishment when I’ve had a hard time feeling that elsewhere. This was particularly true during our two-year wait to adopt our youngest son. Our adoption journey began in February 2021 and was fraught with much emotion as we navigated waiting, lots of rejection, confusion, disappointment, and sadness. It was out of this season that my very first collection of work was created, and I began selling my work in February 2023 just under one month before our precious son was born.
Favorite art tool?
I recently brought out my Color-aid swatches from college to help me with choosing paint colors for my botanical canvases. I forgot how much I loved this tool from color theory class and how useful these are for painting mixing. It has helped me create pieces that I’m in love with. With colors that are so powerful and amazing together. Using these swatches has removed the guess work in choosing colors and has made me get so excited about mixing paint. I love taking the swatch and figuring out the perfect combination of paint to match the color. Most of the time, I then write down the formula for how I got it—although every now and then, I forget and kick myself when I realize I forgot!
Favorite time of day to paint?
Late afternoon! My studio has windows on three sides and faces the west, and the afternoon light is my favorite. I love the sunniness and the way the I can see the waving leaves and branches making shadows on the studio floor.
If I could have dinner with three artists, past or present, they would be…
Paule Marrot, Helen Frankenthaler, and Henri Matisse (a present artist: Teil Duncan Henley).
What type of music is playing in your studio?
Quite possibly the most random mix! Its all about what I’m in the mood for—which is sometimes silence with four kids! Phil Wickham, Shane and Shane, Taylor Swift, Adele, Ellie Goulding, recently Gracie Abrams, Celine Dion, Fall Out Boy, James Morrison, Coldplay, Motown, CCR.
Do you have a secret talent or hobby besides painting?
I used to design stationery and had a business for almost 10 years. I don’t design anymore, but our family Christmas card is a true passion project every year! I get so excited to design it and start designing it in my head months in advance.
What is your favorite book or the last book you read?
Pride and Prejudice or Anne of Green Gables (the entire series).