Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeannie Winston. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jeannie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I grew up in Los Angeles, the City of Angels and have spent most of my life reveling in and observing the enormous varieties of cultures that make this city their home. I am constantly astonished and inspired by the traditions and rituals on display.

For a while I lived in a small, mostly grey city in Northern Germany and when I arrived, I did not speak the language. I quickly had the good fortune of stumbling upon an African Store selling books, masks, and may other things from the continent. I became friendly with the German-Nigerian couple that owned it and spoke very good English. They allowed me to sit for hours drinking hot tea and reading all the books in French, (a second language for me) on African art, one of my passions.

I remember picking up a book titled “Ethiopian Medicine : Art That Heals.” That was the spark for the idea of a museum exhibition which compared and contrasted healing traditions from around the world through their ritual objects specifically created and intended for healing. Many people call them pieces of “African Art” or “Oceanic Art, ” when in fact every mask and object is created for a specific ritual purpose.

Back in Los Angeles my dearest friend and soon to be co-curator told me a museum director had approached her Haitian Art Gallery, Galerie Lakaye and was thinking about creating an exhibition loosely centered on spirit and art. She immediately thought of me and as one thing led to another, I was able to propose, create and finally curate a show at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles. The show was titled Healing : A Cultural Exploration.

It was a multi cultural exhibition exploring the concept of healing in all its forms—medicinal, spiritual, and emotional—through the perspective of diverse cultural traditions. On display were sacred objects and artifacts, both ancient and contemporary, as used in rituals around the world and in over 20 cultures.

Having the chance to not only research and meet collectors but more importantly to truly understand and see the magical link that exists between diverse cultures throughout the world, had a profound affect on me.

Designing the exhibition and the placement of objects, telling a story that was continuous flow making sure each object was placed in a respectful and pleasing way, was a new experience for me a a designer.

I came to the realization that every piece of artwork and every textile design I would do for myself moving forward would be centered in one way or another on healing. I would say that experience profoundly changed my artistic life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I believe all of us are artists. Some of us though have more of that magic flowing through us than others and it becomes an impetus to create. Honestly, you can do nothing else. When you know, you know. I was creative from as far back as I can remember. If I am not creating something I don’t feel as well as I need to.

I studied Illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where I am now also a part-time professor. I began as an illustrator of children’s books and gradually moved into textile design through the baby bedding industry. From there I progressed to textile design for the residential and commercial industries.

Over time I have come to understand that all good creativity comes from allowing your inner voice and intuition to come forth in every project you decide to work on. I work alongside Interior Desirers to help them visualize their inspirations and it really becomes a wonderful give-and-take collaboration. That is very exciting to me, and I thrive and am inspired by the energetic exchange of creative ideas. I believe one of my strengths is listening and tuning into what lies behind the things they say and the projects they are working on. I always look for a deeper meaning, so what is it that lies underneath what the client is looking for.

As a textile designer, I consider myself a storyteller. Each design has a meaning, in that it must invoke the emotional reaction desired, once it is used in an interior or exterior setting. Color, texture, subject, scale, and substrate all combine to produce the desired effect.

When I am designing interior textiles or rugs, I know there are so many things to consider. A textile design for a private interior would be vastly different than one meant to be used in an airport lounge. The same goes for almost all the designs I create. The colors, textures, and needs and desires of the clients are the ingredients, and I try to tune into what would best fulfill those needs.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Resiliency and the ability to pivot into new directions are the most important attributes to learn and hold dear. If I have learned one thing as a creative human it is that everything changes and you must be willing to flow with that change.

I was a very successful Children’s Book Illustrator for many years and then, the publishing world changed. In a big way. There were mergers and cutbacks and the willingness on the part of publishers to take a chance on new talent dwindled. So did the fees for illustrators. It became increasingly difficult to make a living in my chosen artistic profession., as I watched the publishing world change.

I had no choice but to pivot and apply my talent to another area. As illustrating stories became. less of a viable way to make a living working in the Baby Bedding Industry was the next logical step. You never run out of mothers wanting to decorate their nurseries in anticipation of their new arrivals! I thought the same was true of Children’s Books and it is, however, the pay scale had turned south and I pivoted to textiles, another form of storytelling.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I would say that the goal or mission driving my creative journey is to create a sense of balance and well-being with all the designs I create. To help people feel happy and have a sense of harmony and peace.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://jeanniewinston.com
• Instagram: @jeanniewinstondesign
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jeannie-winston-021

Image Credits
Jeannie Winston Portrait Skeleton Toile De Jouy