We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adrian Jennings. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adrian below.
Alright, Adrian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?
You know, when I started painting, I had a 9-5 career and 2 young children. I also had absolutely no clue what I was doing. But I remember saying to myself, “You have something to say. And it’s worth saying.” I had this idea of a painting celebrating the beautiful, tired, overwhelmed mothers. And one of my favorite pastimes was taking a bubble bath with my little ones. So I painted an image of a mom in a tub with her daughter. The mom’s hair was disheveled symbolic of the long day as she slumps in the tub to relax. The mother is also holding a rose which is symbolic of the beauty of motherhood. This was back in 2019 and I had only been painting for year. I was at an event and had my work on display and this was one of the pieces. A woman walked in, she was pregnant and had a baby girl asleep in her arms. She was immediately drawn to the painting and asked how much it was. I was so thrown off by the question, I just said the first number I could think of. She grabbed her husband and told him to give me the money. I wanted to cry and do the running man at the same time. That moment showed me that my art speaks and I had found my way of communicating my thoughts and feelings.
Adrian, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a self taught artist from Stone Mountain,Ga. I currently live in Huntsville Al with my husband and 2 kids. My work is mainly created on canvas or wood using acrylic paint. When I started painting in 2018, I would have said that art is my escape from reality. Today, after many experiences with my health, I would say that art is me acknowledging my reality and taking ownership of my experiences as a black woman. A majority of my work is a reflection of black men and women and their work/experiences. My work also has a lot of influence from music, from blues to hip hop. I want my audience, which mostly includes minorities, to see themselves in all their greatness. I like to experiment using different styles and techniques with influences from graffiti and street art to realism and abstract expressionism. I use vibrant colors and textures to communicate and evoke emotions. When I create a piece my intentions are to convey my feelings about the subjects portrayed. I’m now on my 5th year as a creative, so I’m excited to see how my technique and experiences continue to expand and evolve. And as that evolution occurs, my message of representation matters will continue to show in my work. This year, I look forward to reaching a larger audience with my work by participating in more public art opportunities, and having a positive impact on others around me.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
As I mentioned earlier, I am a mother of two handsome boys. Tyree is 12 and Tyson is 7. They are my most prized possessions. The most precious of gifts. And growing up in the church, I understand that since they are gifts, I need to be a good Stewart of those gifts. So the most rewarding part of my creative journey is having them by my side through all of it. They can see Mommy working all day and then painting before bed. They help me manage my projects and they also tell when to slow down and take them out to dinner or to a movie. At events, they are helping load and unload and load again. They help me with sales and passing out my cards when I need to step away. With them being by my side, I hope that they are learning that, their thoughts and creativity is currency, it matters, and if you have a dream you have to chase it. You have to chase your dream when you’re tired. When you don’t feel like it matters to anyone but yourself. You chase it when you fail and you stay humble when you succeed.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I never really think of myself as being resilient but when I reflect on my experience, It is an amazing testimony and shows how God continues to keep me covered. I have not told anyone what I’m about to disclose really. But I’m going to share in hopes that you see where my resilience comes from. In November 2021, I was hospitalized for a month. I had developed lung damage in my right lung from 2 different fungal infections. I had developed these infections due to a autoimmune disease called ulcerative colitis. This digestive disease has no cure but can be managed with medication. However, medication further suppresses the immune system. Hence is why I ended up being hospitalized. My body could not get rid of the infection. While being treated, I was not allowed to see my children due to the hospital’s COVID-19 protocol. For a month, I suffered from fevers and chills. I could barely eat and I was so sad and I was missing my best friends. My children. My husband brought my easel and a canvas to the hospital so that I could create something. But I was so defeated, I didn’t touch it. Once I was able to finally go home, I brought my easel next to my bed and started back creating whatever I wanted. And after I would finish one, I’d do another, and another. No one really knew that I was 84 lbs with damaged lungs and additional illness draining my energy. All they could see was the work. My “Invisible illness” can have an impact on my productivity and sometimes my mental health at times. But I’m still here. I’m so grateful to wake up with a passion all of my own. In 2022, I was a featured artist in the Spectacular Black Girl Art Show twice, participated in the Black Art Expo in Atlanta and the Black Art Market in Nashville, did several live paintings, and was asked to participate in an event filmed on Love and Marriage Huntsville. So to have such great support from my family that encourages me to rest when I need to and to go hard and show out when I have the energy has enabled me to reach so many goals. So if you see my work, now you know, it was created through adversity and pain, triumph and joy, passion and dedication.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @created_by_aj (personal) / @aj_original_s (business)
- Facebook: Facebook.com/AJOriginalArt