I took her online class a while back and I can attest to the fact that she is a WONDERFUL instructor. Many artists are good at the painting process, but lack the skills to teach. Jennifer excels at both.
Jennifer is such a great figurative artist that I have to admit when she started painting her animals, I was a bit disappointed. How selfish is that... now that she is at the absolute pinnacle of what she does! She has such a broad impact and reach. When my daughter's dog passed away, she came to me and asked if Jen was a good choice to do a portrait. My daughter is not into art, so I was a little surprised that she was coming to me with a specific artist in mind (rather than asking for a recommendation...lol). I had the absolute joy of listening her tell me about how she found Jen on social media, showed me examples of other paintings that she liked, and why she thought Jen's paintings reminded her of the paintings I have hanging in our home and gallery. Thanks for the discussion. I enjoy hearing her process and motivations and feeling the joy she has in painting.
Great podcast, Mark! I have followed and been a fan of Jennifer's work for some time now. She has an unmistakable style and a witty sense of humor as well. A win win. Good stuff!
WOW! This was great Mark, thank you for putting these interviews together. Jennifer's insight about being authentic and staying true to one's artistic vision is so very very important because that is when you truly find your voice. In my long journey as an artist, I have done what a lot of artist do chase around thinking this would work to make money draw this post that and then I would get frustrated not realizing I have my own story to share and now because of the shift in my thoughts about my art I’m starting to be more authentic in my artistic vision and finding my voice. I’m looking forward to next week’s interview.. Jennifer's art is incredible.
Really enjoyed this conversation Mark and Jennifer. I've been a fan of her work for many years and it was so interesting to hear her thoughts on her own creative ideas and methods. BTW, this was the first of your podcasts I've listened to and can't wait to listen to the rest of them!
Among the HUNDREDS of things I have learned from Jennifer, is that it's okay to use black paint! I had been told for years and years not to use black on your palette. And Jennifer makes it work... and work well! Sometimes, black is the pigment you want! Now I've taken another dive into the Zorn Palette, and have been experimenting with many pigment combos.
Just watched Richie’s episode, and now super excited to watch this one! It’s such a wonderful opportunity to be able to listen to current artists that you admire. You’re also a great interviewer! Looking forward to future episodes!
This was excellent and I appreciate the depth that it went into. This is my video/podcast of yours and I’ve just subscribed. Well done and I’m looking forward to your others.
I have taken many online courses with Jennifer on Drawing America and she is just one of the BEST there is. I knew she was the mentor I wanted to learn from and she did not disappoint. She has a heart for the animal world as I do and can make you feel the soul of the animal she is painting like no other. Thank you for the interview of this beautiful and compassionate artist. ' Do it anyway!'
Mark, your discussion of critiques, with Jennifer Gennari, has really brought back a bit of PTSD for me. Not only, as you said, in the bad treatment that I've witnessed for other students, but also in my own critiques that I've received. It seems to me that traditional academia has been trying to work it's way out of a kind of lazy temperamental way of delivering art instruction for some years now, and I think it has contributed to the kind of attitude students get from teachers sometimes. Even in some workshops I've seen instructors be so strident in their teaching that it too seemed stifling to real learning. And yet art schools still go on, and students come out of schools and find success. But most often, it's what the student brings to the table of learning, and not so much what the teacher seems to think they can infuse the student with, that makes for individual success as an artist. I used to teach as an adjunct member of the faculty at BYUI, 2010 thru 2018.
I love your point here Tom that it ultimately is a student's responsibility to take what they learn and use it to their success... ultimately any teacher is going to be limited in their capacity to "teach" by each individual student's willingness to learn and absorb information. Great insights here, thanks for sharing!
