We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Herlocker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I have always been a bit of a creative. I loved art, photography, theatre, it was a really cathartic outlet for me because I was usually pretty shy, so art allowed me present myself behind a shadow. As I got older went on through life like normal, working and just existing; but my mental health started to slowly take over and I felt like I was becoming powerless to it. I’ve struggled most of my life with depression, anxiety and OCD and when I was really in the deepest moments where i didn’t know if I was going to be able to get myself to move art was the one thing that truly helped. It allowed me to express the frustrations I was feeling that I didn’t want to verbally express to anyone. I felt better as I was creating and felt a little bit renewed. At that moment I knew I wanted to make my main focus on art with a representation of mental health through an abstract visual story telling. In 2022 I applied to an ad I saw on Instagram – an art residency in France. After doing the research I knew that it was something I really wanted to experience, being around people especially strangers was terrifying and then to top it off with my novice approach to art I was not sure I did the right thing. However, Chateau d’Orqueavaux accepted me and awarded me one of their emerging artists grants. In October 2023 I found myself in France at the most beautiful chateau with other artists and writers; and this experience turned out the be one of the most life changing experiences I’ve had to date. I had the luxury of learning from artists, writers, musicians. Collaborations, with a writer Brianna Malotke who I connected closely with and we collaborated on a piece while at the Chateau. After our return to reality Brianna and I decided to collaborate on a book. A collection of poetry (@briannamalotke on instagram) and my paintings with a focus on mental health. Come Fall 2025 our book will be out in stores and I cannot begin to express my excitement. Mental Health awareness is hugely important to me and I am a firm believer that art is a powerful outlet for all people and especially people living, struggling and surviving with mental health.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am born and raised in Washington State – Near Seattle but moved around a lot when I was younger. Lots of people in my family had artistic talent, my grandfather was an incredibly talented painter and my grandmother was also a talented artist and writer. I always ventured towards a more creative life but put it to the wayside while I tried to make my way in adulthood. I did mostly customer service and hospitality driven roles but moved around from job to job looking for something to fuel my soul. These jobs were not it at all. I decided to go back to my love of art and started painting again and doing photography mostly as a hobby. I had a couple photos sell which was thrilling and my move to an artistic field shifted in 2023 after my art residency in France at Chateau d’Orquevaux. It solidified my desire to intertwine art and mental health. This started with the work i did while in France, the book I have coming out in the Fall with my co-author and my planning of a art program for kids and adults with mental health.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I think the biggest thing I can say about resources which I always had a hard time with was just ask. Put yourself out there in all aspects. Sometimes you get a rejection and thats okay, but a lot of the time you’ll be surprised by how supportive people are. I was always terrified to ask for help, support or really anything because I didn’t want to feel like I couldn’t do it on my own. But my biggest problem was I didn’t know where to start. Having those resources is so helpful and take advantage of the opportunity. (in the kindest way possible).
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
So far its allowing the public to see my work, which still terrifies me because I know its not for everyone and I’m sensitive :)
but I truly feel like my work can hopefully reach people to allow for a new open discussion about mental health and trauma. It starts a dialog, allows for a conversation, and hopefully allows for anyone who is suffering in silence; which i am familiar with, to reach out in a way that is helpful for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jenniferherlocker.com
- Instagram: @jenniferaherlocker
Image Credits
The two photos of me were taken by Katelyn Metzger @thefreckledphotographer