Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Elaine
Hi Jennifer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
God revealed my passion and natural talent of painting in the summer of 2015 after my ankle was fractured in three places making me immobile for 8 weeks. While I was healing, I decided to teach myself how to paint and develop my craft. It was like art therapy: comforting to the bones and soothing to the soul. I have always known how to draw and sketch, but it wasn’t until I picked up the paintbrush that I fell in love with creating masterpieces.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a Black woman artist, I have encountered overlapping forms of discrimination, such as double marginalization due to my race and gender. Black women also receive the least amount of funding (i.e. capital, grants, etc.) for our businesses, in addition to the fact that Black art doesn’t receive as much exposure and publicity compared to other art genres. Despite these barriers, I have shown perseverance and found my purpose by defying societal expectations and establishing my own path within the art world. I’m fueled by a passion for inclusivity and representation in art galleries.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create phenomenal paintings that display Black women in a positive light, embracing their natural kinks and curls graced with melanin-rich skin. My art is internally driven, illustrating the beauty, softness, and femininity of Black women in our most authentic form.
My celebratory paintings of Black girls and women allow us to see ourselves represented in my artwork. Representation matters! Black girls and women feel valued and beautiful because of my art, which improves our self-confidence and self-worth. The “strong Black woman” narrative can be exhausting, we want to relax. So it’s essential to illustrate the versatility and joy in being able to relax and exist without having to carry that stereotypical or trauma-centered narrative.
I use color psychology to create different color palettes that evoke a different mood or feeling in each painting. I love vibrant, engaging colors, so I incorporate heavy use of color in the majority of my artwork, which encourages positive vibes. I also use black and white art to create masterpieces to complement any aesthetic, since some art collectors prefer neutral colors for their homes or offices.
In addition to everything previously mentioned, I am known for my attention to detail in making every natural hair strand, kink, and/or curl pop off the canvas to appear three-dimensional. I primarily use acrylic paint as my medium, along with other media to create mixed media art full of texture and detail. My growth over the past 9 years has been substantial and impressive.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see Black women artists paving the way for future generations to flourish and shine. As I stated in one of my previous responses, I’m fueled by a passion for inclusivity and representation in art galleries. I envision both Black women and men artists increasing their presence in world-renowned galleries and museums with more access to capital and grants.
The majority of the world has become digital, so opening new brick and mortar galleries may not be necessary. Several galleries have closed and moved to online only, including mine. PIVOT and RESET. After 5 years in March 2024, I closed my gallery to move into a private art studio suite to significantly reduce overhead costs to increase my bottom line. Personally, I had 75% more online art sales from collectors around the nation compared to in-person at my gallery. I have a combined 50K+ followers across multiple social media platforms.
However, there is something divine about being surrounded by beautiful art in a gallery, studio, museum, or showcase. It is an amazing experience that I would suggest every art collector or lover encounter at least once in their lifetime.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://orijennalart.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/orijennal_art
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/orijennalart
