While many artists realize their calling at an early age, Jenny Foster is one of the few lucky ones who also unearthed her artistic voice when she was very young. She can’t quite explain it or understand where it came from, it just seemed to be something innate––something that made her soul sing. And today, that style has become her calling card of sorts. Her work has become synonymous with joy, whimsy, color and playfulness.
Jenny started painting at age seven, and even then, she painted from her heart. If she wanted the sky a nontraditional color or animals to have uncharacteristically long legs, she painted it. Though she was often questioned by teachers or gently reminded that the colors weren’t “right”, she remained true to her unique style.
She went on to study art at Arizona State University where she challenged herself to explore other techniques, but eventually returned to what felt true for her––and that has always made her smile. In fact, the smile has become the barometer for knowing when a piece is complete. When it makes her smile, she knows she’s done.
Still, as innate as this style is to Jenny, every piece is a bit of a challenge as she attempts to uncover what the piece is meant to be. It may start out as a particular animal, but morph into something else. Despite the ups and downs each piece takes her through, she loves the process. And now Jenny is challenging herself with a few new subject matters and going larger with some sculpture ideas she’s had on her mind for a while.
Read on or watch the video below to learn more about Jenny and some of the new art she has in the works.
When did you know art was your calling?
I believe people are born knowing that they’re an artist. I think it’s something you’re just born with. I don’t think we have a choice. I had an easel at seven and I have painted ever since.
But to make a living at it, it took me a little longer. I was a graphic designer for years to pay the bills and painted at night until I was okay enough to go out on my own as a full-time painter, which I was able to do in my early 30s. That was my dream!
What do you love most about the creative process?
The thing I love the most about it is when I’m finished and I’ve gone through the process of figuring out where it’s going. It’s pretty much more of a challenge for me every project. It’s like a push/pull challenge, success/fail until it gets to the end. Then when it finally is right, and it makes me smile, I know it’s finished.
The other day, for instance, a lady came in [to the Celebration of Fine Art] and said her friend was terminally ill, and the friend asked to have my painting up by her bed. So that is so meaningful to me. That was very special. And if I can bring a little joy into people’s lives in times like that, then what a wonderful way to make a living.
How did you develop your unique style?
I’m not sure where my style comes from. I think I’ve always had a different way of painting. I remember in grade school I was always told I was painting things the wrong color or a different color. They were nice about it, but would say, “No, Jenny, the sky really isn’t that color.”
I always had a different way of looking at things. I’ve always painted in this kind of whimsical nature except when I was going to ASU and learning different types of art at that point, just to learn different techniques. But then I went back to me and what I wanted to paint, and that’s always been happy, whimsical, joyful.
A lot of my pieces have interaction with each other. There might be a horse talking to a dog, or it might be just a dog looking straight out at the observer.
How do you keep yourself challenged?
I don’t have to try. I’m up every day in the studio. I can’t wait to get in there. It’s an absolute obsession and passion for me. I always have new ideas and I have so many more to still get to. I’m going to be doing some sculptures of some big bigger dogs, and I’ve had other ideas in my crazy brain for a while that I haven’t gotten to yet. But these will be ready next year. I’m also doing portrait work––still in my crazy style, whimsical, joyful, happy, different colors, crazy hats. I did some this year and they seemed to go well and I can’t wait to do more.
What brings you back to the Celebration of Fine Art?
I’ve been doing the Celebration for 23 years and it’s pretty much a life changer. I love a lot of things about it. I love the other artists that are here every year. We’ve become really good friends. We’re all very supportive of each other, and everybody’s so helpful and happy here. I get to meet the customers, which is really a great thing. I get to know them and I’ve become really good friends with a lot of my customers. So, between that and the other artists, it’s a feeling of family here––with the customers and the artists. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.