Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jantje Jensen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jantje, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I have been an ‘art person’ my whole life and as a child thought I would eventually be a professional artist. I grew up pre-internet, in a time when being an artist wasn’t really promoted as a serious career in schools and there wasn’t really any direction in being an artist as a profession. So, I changed course into mental health and was content being a home artist which afforded me the opportunity to follow any and every artistic pursuit I wanted. Over the course of the past few years, I realized that more than ever, the bridge between mental health and having an outlet for passion and creativity is incredibly strong and should be recognized as a need rather than a luxury.
So, I decided to through caution to the wind and create the studio, as a safe space for arts education as well as fun in a consistently positive environment.
The core of the studio is our donation-based open studio times because we feel that everyone should have access to creative supplies and outlets regardless of limitations.
Jantje, 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?
Hi, my name is Jantje Jensen. I’m the behind-the-scenes art person that does a little bit of everything but doesn’t stand out in a crowd. I love trying every medium I can get my hands on, working out kinks in the process of how to make a successful artic piece, master it and then move along to the next skill.
I’m the one that will sew all the costumes for a small-town production of Little Mermaid, but at home, I burn the cookies, don’t fold socks, and still ask my kids for help on how to work Google Docs.
I started my business because I want to bridge the gap and provide a space for aspiring artists, as well as people who don’t feel that they have an artistic bone in their body…and have fun doing it!
I’m An Artist Community Studio was created as a safe space to learn and hone skills, try new ideas and mediums, have fun with friends and provide opportunities for people within the community to display work, teach classes, and generally enjoy a creative atmosphere.
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
The studio is based around having donation-based open studio times throughout the week to provide a creative outlet for people regardless of life’s limitations. This is a time to find inspiration, try new mediums, meet other creatives and talk about ideas and relax in our positivity-centered environment. The connection between having an outlet for ones creativity and good mental health is unmistakable. My hope for the studio is that it helps aid in that, and is used as a tool for artistic growth and connection.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I often take for granted what a gift it is to be creative. Creativity is a magical word that is found and used in every academic subject including art, throughout history as a tool for necessity and growth, and is often required in our everyday mundane tasks.
Having a creative spark and the desire to learn and try new things propels me to move forward daily. Whether it be trying a new medium or teaching a class I haven’t taught before with new people and styles, figuring out how to manage time in my daily tasks…or fix a broken household item using whatever ‘things’ you have at your fingertips.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imanartistgr.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imanartist.gr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imanartist.gr/
Image Credits
Pexels for the art supplies photo, all others are taken by me. Children’s artwork is a space scene painted by 4-6-year-olds at a birthday party, and the linocut was made by me.