We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennie Tucker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennie below.

Jennie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

When I look at artists as a whole, I see a great number of struggling artists. Most are filled with an extraordinary artistic talent, but seem to be discouraged and disheartened by a perceived sense of failure. They do not know what they are doing wrong, and why they are not seeing the world appreciate their art, as they do. Needless to say, I studied art in college and for the past 10 years I have successfully made six figures as a live event painter. I have lived and worked, and interacted with successful and seemingly unsuccessful artists – musicians, painters, illustrators, graphic designers. It is clear to me that most just need some encouragement, guidance, and someone to consult them in business and marketing. I think I have a strong sense of both – art and business – and my biggest success has been in learning to appreciate and value the feedback from my clients. While my art is certainly for me, it is more importantly for my client and their enjoyment and pleasure. As artists, we have to tweak our perspective and realize art is service; and the best thing you can do for yourself and your wallet, is realize the customer comes first. We are here to use our gifts to serve those around us, not to only please ourselves.

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 a sixth-generation, born and raised Austin, Texan, but have lived in Denver now for 10 years. I attended Baylor University and graduated with a BFA in graphic design in 2011. After a few years dabbling in many jobs, including teacher, foster home supervisor, nanny, barista, pediatric orthodontic assistant, Young Life leader etc., my career found me in my living room. I started painting to escape the pressures and anxiety of life, and after one friend asked me to paint her wedding, the rest is history.

For almost 1o years now, I have traveled domestically and internationally as a professional live wedding and event painter, and commission artist. It is my great joy and passion to paint “live” in front of audiences. I have a very unique and God-given gift of painting extremely fast under a great deal of pressure, while audiences watch. Unlike paintings done in the quiet solitude of a studio, I offer a custom painting that is directly related to the emotion and sensory experience of my client’s event. I offer a luxury level of service and professionalism to my clients, and create a live painting with a very intimate connection to the client and their milestone events.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Your reputation is everything! New business owners do not understand how vitally important it is to be authentic and confident in yourself and your business to every single person you interact with. One of the best things I have done is confidently and joyfully talk about my business and my passion with everyone from the janitor in the bathrooms at luxury event venues to business men on airplanes. You have to be consistent with who you are, wherever you are. Character always matters, and you will never ever go wrong by being honest, even when no one is watching.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are endless rewarding aspects to being an artist! I often feel like I get to see the world through a colored lens that no one else sees through. I have a gifted eye for color, and inspiration – when I look at the sky, I do not just see blue and white, but yellows and golds and cool hues; when I see shadows from trees, or grass, I see exaggerated shapes and values. I also love that I paint best when I am in front of people, and in the midst of chaos – there is something about the energy and life around me that inspires and moves me to paint my best work. Most of all, it is eternally rewarding to get to do what I love for a living.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jennielouart.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jennielouart
• Facebook: facebook.com/jennielouart

Image Credits
Ann Mark Photography, Steve Stanton Photography, Julie Wilhite Photography