We recently connected with Jenny Nordstrom and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I was a music major in college, and pursued administrative music work early in my career — I loved supporting musicians, but the work itself was dreadfully boring! So I went back to school and became a graphic designer, a career which made me very happy! In the meantime, I got married to my late husband John. Among many other things, he was an amazing amateur photographer — and being around him (and his cameras!) really inspired my interest in that creative work. I was pretty sure I had a strong eye for it, but my technical skills weren’t great. So when I got laid of from my graphic design job, I knew exactly what to do next — back to school again, this time for photography!

John and I did a lot of travel photography together — and this became my back burner passion project, throughout my careers in graphic design and portrait photography. After I lost him, I kept doing the work on my own, traveling as often as my budget (and single parenthood) would allow! And then it happened — during a trip to Iceland, I had the proverbial lightning bolt moment. I was scrambling up a scrubby hill, soft moss under my fingers, overjoyed to see a big beautiful glacier ahead of me. There was the smell of ice in the air, and I could hear the seagulls high overhead. And then suddenly it hit me — “THIS IS YOUR CALLING. This is what you are supposed to be doing with your life!” This intense epiphany was followed quickly by the realization that I had never actually TRIED to be a full time artist. I had let too many people tell me that it was too hard, and that I had to have other work to be successful. That was about to change.

Jenny, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I came home from Iceland on fire — why not try to be an artist? So I changed all of my energy. I started taking business courses especially meant for artists. I applied for art shows, and quickly lined up a my first solo shows of my work. I started getting organized, worked on branding, built a web site. And then my big break happened — I learned that the amazing Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria had studio openings, and decided to apply! I had no idea whether my work would stand up to other artists I’d be competing against — but then miraculously, I was awarded a studio! Having a public space in such a prestigious institution completely changed my life. Suddenly, people were discovering — and buying! — my work. I have now been here almost five years, and am grateful every day for the opportunity to make a living selling my fine art photography.

As an artist, I am obsessed first and foremost with color – whether I am exploring the world, or capturing my home in beautiful Washington DC. (My favorite color is all of them!) I am also a storyteller, and it is my passion to share the world with others through my images. I like to arrive in a new location without preconceived notions, and allow the place to reveal its secrets while I explore. My favorite thing is to go where the people are – I am much more interested in neighborhoods than monuments!

The beautiful thing about fine art photography is that it can be printed in the perfect size for the space that you have available — all while adding life and color to your home or office! I’d love to work with you to find the perfect image for your space. Check out my web site at www.jennynordstromphotography.com for some ideas. Or stop by Studio 338 at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia for some more inspiration! Let’s talk!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The world is my inspiration. People constantly ask which is my favorite country, and my answer is always — “Impossible!” My superpower is that I find beauty wherever I am. And as a storyteller, my mission is to visually convey the spirit of a place. I love to wander cities, and usually wind up in neighborhoods where they think I’m a little lost. If I can convey the heart and the magic of a place in a single image, that is pure joy for me!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

When I first started out, there were a couple of art business organizations that really helped me to focus my efforts in a productive way. I attended an art business seminar by the Clark Hulings Foundation (https://clarkhulingsfoundation.org/) that really got me off on the right foot, and I also got a lot out of information put out by Artsy Shark (https://www.artsyshark.com/).

These days, I do a lot of listening to podcasts about both art business and just “regular” business. A few favorites are the Abundant Artist Podcast, the Art Marketing Podcast, a Brainy Business, The Art Biz, and Marketing Made Simple.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jennynordstromphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennynordstromphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennynordstromphotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-nordstrom-66a09a8/

Image Credits

All images copyright Jenny Nordstrom Photography