Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Lueck
Jenna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m sure plenty of kids don’t look forward to getting on the school bus each morning.
I was never one of them.
For me, the 30 minute ride from my family’s dairy farm in rural Iowa to school felt like magic.
Especially when I got a window seat.
The bus would wind along the road, and I would sit with my nose pressed against the glass, watching the valley below. Waiting.
There would be nothing to see but thick patches of fog until suddenly – POP. There it was.
A world of color would appear where the fog lifted momentarily, revealing a farmstead.
Red barn. Silo. Old farmhouse. Rolling green hills surrounded by blazing orange, red, and yellow fall trees.
These were the types of farms most people only see in the movies. But I got to see them almost every day.
It was beautiful. Even as a kid, I knew I had a view that no one could take for granted.
Hi, by the way! My name is Jenna Lueck. I’m from Balltown, Iowa.
You might miss it on the map, but tourists flock to this part of the country every summer and fall to drive along The Great River Road and take in the spectacular views of the Mississippi River and valley below.
I can see why.
I am enchanted by this area, too. I always have been.
I grew up a farm kid. Actually, even in my early 40s, I’m still a farm kid. That’s not something you just outgrow or leave behind. No matter how far from the farm life takes you, it’s still a part of you.
The animals, the old buildings, the sunrise over the barn during morning chores, the birds flying home at sunset. I feel so lucky to have grown up close to these things. So lucky, in fact, that I decided to raise my own children here.
There is no place I’d rather be than on my front porch with my dogs, watching an Iowa sunrise.
Or hitting the brakes on the gravel road I’m driving on because I just discovered another old windmill, and I have to witness its silhouette against the deep blues and purples of the sunset.
Or at the river fishing with my son or walking along its banks with my friends.
What I’m saying is … living in the Driftless Area of Iowa came naturally to me.
But becoming an artist? That path was less straightforward!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I left the farm and went to college, hoping to earn a degree in graphic design. Much to my dismay, I discovered that I would be required to take art classes as part of my curriculum. I thought this was going to be all computers!
Ok, I told myself, you can do this.
I’m a farm kid! I rolled up my sleeves and got to work figuring out how to use a paintbrush.
Fast forward.
I’m back home, living in the countryside with my husband. Now, it’s our three kids who ride the school bus.
I’ve been trying to capture the beauty of Iowa with my camera for years, but the photos never entirely do justice to the colors and emotions I experience.
So, with my mom’s encouragement echoing in my ears, “Jenna, you’ve always been an artist.”
And thinking of that time when my husband picked me up when we were still dating, noticed my painting hanging in the family dining room, and exclaimed, “Oh, wow! Who’s the artist?”
I dusted off my college paintbrushes and decided to paint Iowa how I see it.
Vibrant. Colorful. Alive and dancing with light, joy and emotion. Quiet, deep, wise and full of old stories.
This was over seven years ago. I’m still painting today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I started painting because of the land. Because I wanted everyone to know how beautiful this part of the country is.
But I’ve continued painting because of the people.
When I go to art shows, people you’d never expect—dare I say it, even city folks—stop in their tracks and become filled with emotion.
They hold my paintings and say things like:
“This brings me back to a place I loved visiting as a kid.”
“This reminds me of that one vacation we took to the lake growing up.”
“I feel so peaceful when I see the sunrise like this.”
“This looks exactly like how I remember my grandparents’ farm.”
Speaking of farms, as I write this to you, I just finished a commission painting for a family whose farm is no longer here. Today, that land is all developments.
But with a painting, their farm can live on not just through memory or old photographs but as a conversation piece that’s on display in the living room for everyone to remember, share, and talk about together, from grandparents to great-grandchildren and all generations between.
I continue painting because of the people I meet who love our Iowa skies, farms, and landscapes as much as I do.
Living in Iowa has brought so much peace, joy, and happiness to my life. I want to give that to everyone who sees my paintings. I want them to talk about their summer vacations and the farm they grew up on and have a piece of art that holds those memories close.
Iowa is home. It is a gift.
The least I can do is share it with others.
-Jenna
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Jenna credits the work-ethic and connection to nature that she acquired from her parents & growing up on a farm to her success as an artist.
Author’s Bio:
Jenna Lueck is a Midwest landscape, skyscape, and farmscape painter from Balltown, Iowa. To date, her original paintings, prints, and commission paintings are displayed in over 700 homes and galleries across the country. To see her paintings or schedule a time to visit her personal studio in Balltown, visit www.JennaLueckArt.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JennaLueckArt.com
- Instagram: @JennaLueckArt
- Facebook: @JennaLueckArt
