Jens story

To press through these moments means one day

You won’t have to ask anyone 

If you’re really there

You will find yourself existing,

And properly,

Simply because

You do

Drawing inspiration from the ocean, Jen explains how the ocean massages her brain and allows her ‘quietude’ to iron out her thoughts, still, when it comes to what saved her life, she owes it all to her daughter.    ‘I knew how THAT story ended,’ Jen discloses, never wanting her daughter to feel as she did. While she felt it was a relief to know that suicide was an option, her daughter helped her see the true value of life; she chose to write poems and paint on canvas to express what she was feeling instead of taking her own life.  Abandoned by her own mother may have changed the trajectory of Jen’s life though she persisted and found a way to heal and transform herself and also connect with others who may ‘feel too much’ as Jen laughingly admits is basically what keeps her writing and painting.  Relying on her paints to tell her story is only one ‘vehicle to get it out of my mind’ describes Jen on her creative process, her writing style has evolved since her first poem in 4th grade which she remembers as a ballad of disdain about a flower, consequently, the self taught artist has created her own style that she affirms makes her feel alive. 

Jen is currently completing a gallery collection of paintings and documents some of her journey through her instagram @jenpaintsthings where you can also find out the release of her collection of poetry COMING SOON.