Jennifer Davis ... Minnesota, USA

Artist: Jennifer Davis
Web site: jenniferdavisart.com
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

What do you create?
Acrylic/collage paintings and drawings.


Where and when do you do your creative work?
I have a studio in the spare bedroom of my home so I can paint whenever the mood strikes me. I try to paint everyday.

Do you have another "day job"?
I have been making art full time since i was layed off from my job in October 2003. I was the office manager at an advertising agency.



Where and what did you study?
I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and drawing – and a minor in Art History.

Where do you find inspiration?
I am inspired by art, artists, music, books, films, travel... all of the usual stuff. Specifically, a lot of my art work is inspired by found images. I collect vintage books, magazines and postcards.


What motivates you?
I’m not sure. My favorite thing to do is paint. I just enjoy it. (I suppose the fact that I rely on showing and selling my art to make a living is also a big factor.)


When did you start doing this?
I didn’t start thinking about art as something I could really do until college. I finished all of my general requirements and still had no clue about what I wanted to “be.” I took an art class and was instantly hooked. After that I took every kind of art class offered at the University of Minnesota: ceramics, sculpture, photography, print making, painting, drawing.



Do you remember getting into art as a kid?
My mom says that I was always a creative kid – drawing, “coloring” and talking to myself (yikes!) but I never thought of it as anything other than play.

When and why did you decide to start your own business?
Getting laid off from my job (in 2003) was a lucky break for me. It nudged me into taking the leap toward doing what a really wanted to do. It gave me the courage to try what I had been wanting to do. I took it as a sign.


What do you love most about creating your work?
Painting is a rush. It is fun. The high only lasts for a little while though – then I go back to painting and try to find it again.

What's the most fascinating place you've been?
A vacation to Italy: Florence, Rome, Venice... beautiful, inspiring.


What advice would you give women starting their own business?
My best advice would be to continually and actively pursue new opportunities. Waiting around for things to fall into laps takes too long.

What do you love to do in your free time?
I love to walk. I take a looooong walk every morning. I also like to eat, drink cheap beer in bars, go to art openings, look at other people’s art, dance, watch movies, read...


What are you working on right now?
My next big show is in January 2008 with Amy Crickenberger at Rosalux Gallery in Minneapolis. Rosalux is a cooperative gallery that I have been working with since 2002. Amy and I are just getting to work on the paintings for our show.