Conversations with the Inspiring Jennifer Yoswa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Yoswa.

ONCE UPON A TIME… there lived a painfully shy little girl who found her voice in pictures rather than words. She spent countless hours drawing her feelings and thoughts. She was happiest when she was drawing. She was an artist.

BUT… for reasons that can’t be explained, she suddenly stopped. She traded her tablets and pencils for gymnastic uniforms and textbooks. She graduated from high school and college, became an elementary school teacher, married, and had two beautiful children. She forgot all about her art and the shy little girl who adored it.

EVEN THOUGH… she was happy and loved her life; something was missing. She felt a creative hunger in her gut. In her attempts to satiate this grumbling, she stenciled walls in her home, painted designs on children’s furniture, and even beaded collars on little glass bottles. Nothing helped.

THEN ONE DAY… with no training at all, she worked up the courage to apply oil paint to canvas. She felt something new and familiar at once. That day changed her forever. The shy little girl, in her thirties at the time, found her voice again. Painting became a part of her soul.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
To onlookers, my art journey might seem smooth. Early on, I experienced quick and consistent successes. I illustrated two children’s books, was accepted into juried art shows and galleries, and my work was selling. However, I’ve had my share of internal struggles. In the beginning, I suffered from a terrible case of “imposter syndrome.” I was sure the art community would eventually discover that I didn’t belong. Fear and anxiety were constants. Although the negative voices still creep into my head from time to time, I have become much more comfortable with vulnerability. I know that painting “fails” are part of the growth process, and I’ll become a better artist because of them.

Advice?
1. Don’t compare yourself to other artists.
2. Understand that every piece of art you make will have an ugly stage. You’ll get through it. Put it aside and work on something else. Have multiple pieces in progress at the same time.
3. Make art for yourself, and don’t worry about what your viewers will think. Those will be your favorite pieces.
4. There are no “rights and wrongs” in art, but rather choices and problems to be solved. If you want to paint crooked eyes, exaggerated limbs, or solid black lines around your figures, do it!
5. Carve out time to make art every day, even if for only a few minutes.
6. Find other artists you admire and connect with them on a personal level. Go out for coffee or a glass of wine.

Please tell us more about your art.
I am a self-taught oil painter. I paint colorful, soulful, strong, and playful portraits, mostly women, celebrating their complex yet essential place in our world and relationships. I have been working on a series that challenges female gender stereotypes called, “That’s Not Ladylike.” My work is meant to be empowering, tender, and mischievous.

I begin my process with a sketch directly on the canvas and then apply paint and cold wax with brushes, palette knives, and my fingers. The decisions I make are primarily intuitive. I consider a painting finished when it looks and feels right. If I am dissatisfied, I will cut out (literally, with scissors) the parts of the painting that I think are worth saving and stitch them onto a different canvas, creating a new piece.

The titles of my paintings are an essential part of the whole. Most of my titles give insight into my thinking, helping people connect with the work. I am inspired by poetry, song lyrics, things people say, dreams, and experiences.

There is nothing else I’d rather be doing than making art. On any given day, at any given time, I can be found sitting at my easel, listening to music while joyfully losing myself in the process. My art studio is in my Colorado home, where I reside with my husband. Painting has taken me on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, and to places I can go only in my imagination. I am humbled that others connect with my work and are willing to join me on this adventure.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
While searching for information and ideas to support my “That’s Not Ladylike” series of paintings, I stumbled upon “The National Museum of Women in the Arts” (NMWA). It is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. The fact that this organization exists is a step in the right direction.
However, according to Director Susan Fisher Sterling, “The truth is that women have never been treated equally in the art world, and today they remain dramatically underrepresented and undervalued in museums, galleries, and auction houses.” The NMWA fact page exposes the disparities. https://nmwa.org/advocate/get-facts

On the flip side, since I have been pursuing art full time, I have encountered influential, intelligent, and powerful female art leaders from all over the world. These women have created in-person and on-line art communities that provide artists with opportunities to share, teach, learn, receive support and encouragement, and sell art. My experience with these communities has been invaluable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jenniferyoswa.com/
• Phone: 303-667-7512
• Email: yoswajennifer@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferyoswa_art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfJenniferYoswa/

Image Credit:
Madison Yoswa

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