Tell us about who you are and how you got started.
I'm Jenna and I dabble with the paintbrush from time to time. I'm currently twenty six years old, which is ridiculous because I was eighteen just the other day. How did I get into art? Well, that's the thing. I never really got into art. I was just an arty kid that just didn't stop arting. Through the years, I've had people tell me that I should do a degree in art, but personally, I couldn't think of anything worse than having someone tell me what to do when it comes to art. Rather shit in my hands and clap.
What are your ambitions for work and life?
My ambition for life would be to do art while pushing the importance of being who we are. If I can make art that makes just a few people think of how incredible it is to be themselves and just like their whole unique, amazing, wrinkly selves, well, that's amazing to me. And then of course, most importantly pushing how lucky we are to have this incredible earth. And just to make people think about the fact of what we are doing to it through overconsumption, clearing land, mining, all that jazz. You know, just like have people stop and think about how the little things we do, how they make an impact. And then of course, the paint Rod Stewart with no pants on would be nice. Yeah.
What has been your favourite project you've worked on so far? Any dream projects out there?
So my favourite project that I've ever worked on is actually the one I'm currently working on, which is a top secret. It's been like the first piece that's actually made me think about my values and who I am and what I want to stand for. And I think that's really, really important in art to make you think. Dreams that I want to achieve; I want to paint Johnny Depp. I want to paint Geoffrey Rush. I want to paint Paul McCartney. I want to be an actor. I want to be in the Guinness World Records for having the most realistic armpit fart. Possibilities. Endless.
What are some of the unexpected joys in what you do?
As an artist that has never done a commission, that's joy to me. I feel like the moment that you start painting for the gallery and doing what the gallery wants is the moment that you lose your voice and you lose who you are, and you lose your joy as a as a creative. Which is shit.
Any advice for creatives looking to make their mark and support themselves like you?
My advice for artists starting out. Try everything. Honestly. Do everything. Enter art prizes. Do exhibitions. Enter TV shows. Throw yourself at it. Get hate comments, get rejected, fail, and then laugh about it. Because what is the point of living if you're not gonna push yourself and try hardest and throw yourself at it? Like, what's the point? What do you want to be 60 and be like, man, I wish I did that. No. My advice is to try and not just sit and wait for it to happen because you make it happen. So make it happen.
Tell us about your work and your creative process?
My process as a creative, I don't really know. It’s kind of hard to talk about my creative process because I feel like I don't have one. The moment that I see someone that I want to paint, my brain just concocts ideas in itself. And then I sit here and I don't know what happens after that. It’s why I love painting so much. I just sit there and my hands and my brain and my everything do the work. I don't think I don't know what I'm doing as long as I get myself to my chair. Bam! It's my job done for the day. I’ve just got to get over the procrastination that doesn't allow me to get to the chair.
