77 Comments

Jennifer, I am so sorry about your mom. That pain and that fog is so difficult. Sending wishes for peace to you this new year.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much Becky, I appreciate it.

Expand full comment

Happy New Year, Jennifer! I am loving all these self portraits. It is inspiring me to paint again and try something similar. :)

Expand full comment

Yes Jessica!!! You should try, keep them short like 30 minutes so you don't feel like it eats up your whole day.

Expand full comment

I love these 💚 so sorry to hear about your mom. I hope you feel her with you this year as you observe and paint such beauty!

Expand full comment

I do, Thank you, I appreciate it!!

Expand full comment

so wonderful to see all of these together! what a fantastic series.

Expand full comment

Hi Jennifer, thank you for sharing your sketchbook selfies. So much more interesting than photos, right? Seeing them inspires me to try something similar. Since I don’t travel extensively I will take a cue from you & place myself in scenes I dream of experiencing.

Here’s to a better year ahead. Hugs,

BJ

Expand full comment

Yes to the virtual travel through art, and I agree wholeheartedly about how much more interesting than a photo. Happy 2025

Expand full comment

Love your selfies so much! It’s inspiring to see them all together and a wonderful reminder of the healing power in art and the importance to let go and play 💕 Wishing you a phenomenal new year!!!

Expand full comment

Yes, the healing power of art. We need that! Thank you Juliette!

Expand full comment

So original and colorful and I love how you stated you paint where you wish you could be…that’s fabulously fun and creative. What inspiration! I too experienced several painful losses this year. None of them expected. Life changing and sad but in many ways has caused me to be a better human being, growing and learning about myself, who I really am inside. And painting world new to me as a result of the loss. The world can be a serendipitous place, so many connections and stories. Happy 2025 and may you have new understandings of how we all fit here together…

Expand full comment

Beautiful comment, thank you! We learn and grow from each experience.

Expand full comment

These are so wonderful – – it makes me wish that I didn’t wear basically the same thing every day – – a black collared what I call undershirt, a flannel shirt, thin cardigan, colorful long, fingerless, gloves, puffy vest black pants.

Expand full comment

And right there is your opportunity to play with possibilities and color! You don’t have to buy anything new, just play with paint!!

Expand full comment

Love this idea!

Expand full comment

Loved your post and all the self portraits. You continue to inspire me and my painting journey. Thank you!

Expand full comment

Yes, keep going, everyday isn’t perfect but one by one you build a great practice! Thank you!

Expand full comment

So sorry for your loss. Beautiful paintings, hope they helped you 'feel all the feels...'

Expand full comment

It helps, and painting is also a way to escape into a different zone which is well needed.

Expand full comment

Jennifer, I enjoyed looking at your selfie paintings. Are you looking at yourself while doing them?

Sorry about your Mom. It is always a hard loss. Mine was 98 when she passed in 2020. When you have someone that long it hard to believe they are gone in body but here in spirit, that is what they say!

Expand full comment

So true!

I try to paint 1 a month but it’s sometimes less and sometimes more. I take a pic of myself in the bedroom mirror. It’s just a reference, not a good picture.

Expand full comment

Oh I LOVE these! I’m a new subscriber and this was my first post from you and it felt very inspirational and kismet-y. Thank you!

Expand full comment

I'm so glad to hear, sending out newsletters is stressful kind of, Thank you!!!

Expand full comment

I love these! What a great idea and a lovely collection of how you were at certain times.😍 A very happy and creative new year to you!

Expand full comment

And to you too Jess. Thank you!

Expand full comment

Jennifer I too had a lousy 2024 and I share your feelings. I too have had a hard time art-ing with so much else on my mind. Your words were exactly what I needed to hear. Let's stuff 2024 behind us and rock out in the new year!

Expand full comment

Glad it helped. There are so many ups and downs and we have to plow through. Yay to a happier 2025

Expand full comment

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jennifer! I can relate to the type of year you had. Your selfie series is so inspiring!

Expand full comment

Thank you! I appreciate it!

Expand full comment

Thank you! These are inspiring. Is this gouache?

Expand full comment

Yes, both acrylagouache and regular gouache

Expand full comment

Thank you. I have your book but gouache is hard for me

Expand full comment