Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jennifer Charboneau. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

As a young Jen I always imagined myself becoming an artist. For me there was no other option. I would create daily… making drawings and cartoons like my heroes: Walt Disney, Bill Watterson, and Shel Silverstein. Then, as I worked my way through a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in University, painting took the center stage. My love for nature and adventure guided me to learn more about the techniques and the lifestyles of artists such as Turner, Monet, Whistler, and many of the impressionist and action painters that lead the creative movements of the early 1900’s. I became fascinated by the stories behind the paintings just as much as the artworks themselves. So, taking inspiration from those early pioneers of “art for art’s sake” I decided after graduating I would embark on a one-way trip to Europe and thrust myself into a life of adventure and travel.
For the next few years, I backpacked my way through Europe, the UK, and Australia. I painted on the streets, sold works from backpackers, and made murals for exchange of a place to stay or a ride to the next city. If I picked up a side job somewhere I always reminded myself that it was temporary… and the art was the real work. I was always motivated to create and to put myself out there to get the artwork seen and the diversities of landscapes and cultures slowly began to shape my art into a style and approach that was truly my own. Then, after a short stint back in the U.S., I packed up again and settled myself in South Korea for two years. In Korea I had an ESL teaching job that took up my days and I spent weekends in Seoul gaining new momentum and direction within my artworks. I remember a major turning point happened with my career at this point. I had a discussion with a fellow ESL teacher and he told me I make a great teacher, and I could be successful at it full time. But he also told me that he saw my spark as an artist. He said you know what you need to do… And with that, I finished teaching that school year and again set off to focus solely on my art. I always have options of side work to fall back on… but that final thrust into a full-time artist gave me the confidence to work diligently and to hustle within the creative world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a full-time creative I continually evolve my business as I know that within the art world there are many options to be successful.
I focus mainly on creating contemporary paintings and drawings of which I exhibit at galleries across the U.S. and impromptu locations (satellite galleries). The satellite galleries are often a more sought-after approach in showcasing my artwork as I find the challenge of utilizing atypical spaces for exhibitions more interesting and more approachable; This is something I homed in on as I travelled selling my artworks early in my career.
I also create large scale public murals, do live painting at corporate and private functions (such as weddings and business parties), and I organize community art events. All of those aspects of my artwork allow me to specifically respond and create with a community, as well as allowing me to travel more frequently for work.
As of recently I have been working with interior design clients and new building complexes to create original impactful paintings and drawings that work specifically with the aesthetics of the space. My paintings are very bold and minimalist with a stylistic approach similar to Japanese calligraphy and abstract expressionism. I want the viewer to feel the movement and action of the creation process rather than to simply see a realistic rendition of the subject being painted. My artworks are held in public and private collections across the globe, and I have published a book and a series of art zines to even further expand upon my artistic visions.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I would say that my main driving force as an artist is to use my creative and philosophical outlook on life as a sort of invitation for others to view the world as a place filled with potential and promise. I seek to enlighten by doing and being. I want to inspire others to observe before assume. “My art should be as malleable as the world we live in; it should not be stagnant. It should possess life and inspire the looker to give and take life from it.”

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is doing what I love day in and day out. Sometimes the work isn’t about you, or your mission… but being able to create something that visualizes another’s vision is still making art. It’s very humbling to have so much creative freedom and trust on projects like that and I always remind myself that the love and the soul of the work will always show through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jcharboneau.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.charboneau/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jcharboneauart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-charboneau-75971499/