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

Jen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

The most unexpected problem I faced while creating my art business is how much this journey would rely on some serious self improvement. When I sought out to turn my creative passion into a business, I thought it would be simple: make art, sell art. But turning my dream into a reality required something very different. It did not require me to “be the best artist who creates the best paintings,” required me to be the best, the most healed version of myself.

I grew up in Ocala, FL, drawing nearly every day from the age of 11 years old (I still have the sketchbooks!) and attended West Port High School, a magnet school for arts. So much of my time was spent building the hard skills: learning to draw and paint, and eventually, learning to market and sell those paintings. About 7 months ago, I decided to take a risk. I quit my corporate 9-5, and dedicated myself solely to my art career. I scheduled coaching calls, and had something confirmed for me. I have the skills to succeed, but something was still holding me back. That something was myself.

As they say, you have to get out of your own way. I realized that I had a lot of limiting beliefs that kept me from advancing in my art career. Things like: marketing is cringe and icky, I’m afraid of what others will think or say about me, and… What if I fail?

All of these fears, which were rooted in unhealed memories, kept me from advancing. When I was finally able to address those wounds, focus on my mental health, and truly grow as a person, I got closer and closer to being the artist I’ve always wanted to be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hey there! My name is Jen Carmiel, an artist and mental health advocate in Columbia, South Carolina. I grew up in central Florida, swimming in fresh water springs with my 4 sisters. I’ve been serving clients through my art business since 2016, and received my bachelor’s of fine arts degree from the University of South Florida.

From 11 years old, all I knew is I absolutely LOVED drawing and painting. As a kid, I had the good fortune of my mom allowing me to paint the walls of my bedroom, and turn my bedroom into an art studio. My art got me through it all. Every struggle, break up, hardship, and moment of uncertainty- I had my art with me.

While receiving my bachelor of fine arts degree, my artwork became heavily mental health focused as a result of my own personal experiences. I was depressed, anxious, and struggling through classes, attending therapy on a weekly basis at the recommendation of a friend. I felt that I most struggled with being able to identify my own feelings and emotions. Others would say they noticed me being quiet and sad, and while the assessment felt true, I couldn’t understand what they meant. What does it mean to be sad? For some reason, it was very difficult for me to understand what “sad” meant.

In therapy, I started assigning emotions to colors, and drawing color graphs to identify my emotions throughout the day. I couldn’t say I felt sad, but I could say I felt blue. I couldn’t say I felt angry, but I could say I felt orange. Fear was purple. Love was pink. Excitement was red. Indifference was gray. This is the start of art becoming the way that I communicated with my inner world, and in repeated practice, I stopped needing to rely solely on art to know myself. I started to be able to identify it on its own.

For a large part of my creative journey, my art has been a window into my own emotional world. Now, my art is a window into what I aspire to become. In February of 2024, I told myself I wanted to create artwork that was happier, that showed a window into the future where life works out, and everything is okay. Life does not always have to be a problem to solve. sometimes, things go wrong, and you can still navigate through it, and find one small thing to hold onto. My art serves as a reminder to appreciate the small joys in life, and find those joys inside yourself. If my art can remind just one person that everything will be alright, then my work here is done.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

After graduating art school in 2020, I started working a 9-5 in the corporate world to pay the bills. I slowly lost touch with my creative side. While working that 9-5, I would constantly tell my friends: I just don’t have time to make art anymore. My job takes up all my time. If only I didn’t work this job, I could do art more often. At least, that’s what I believed at the time.

In February of 2024, I quit my corporate 9-5 to pursue my art career full time. “This is it!” I told myself. “This is the time I always wanted.”

Things didn’t work out exactly as I pictured it. I lived off savings for a number of months before funds ran out, and I needed to get another job. Regardless, I learned so many valuable things during the months I had solely dedicated to my art business. When I picked up another 9-5, and told myself: things will be different this time. I would wake up at 7am, work on my art business from 7am-9am, leave for work at 9:30am, and return home by 7pm. After I got home, I sometimes continued working from 9pm-11pm, drafting up marketing plans, making content, and creating artwork.

Now, I’ve quit that full time job once more, and picked up a part time job, which is much more conducive to my schedule for working on my art business. And throughout that process, I learned that you really just have to make things work. Find the will, and find a way.

This desire to reach people through my art will never go away. My art will never go away. I know that this is with me forever. And while I may have jobs here and there to supplement income, it doesn’t take away from the fact that I am an artist. And I will never stop being an artist for a job ever again.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

When I am asked about why I do this, one particular memory comes to mind.

I was at an art market at Refind Night Market in Columbia, South Carolina. I stood at my booth with all my artwork while an older gentleman stood at arms length away from my booth, appearing to be hesitant about approaching.

“I don’t have any money at all. My wallet is spitting dust,” He said. “I’m sure I won’t be of any help to you.”

“That’s no problem at all! Feel free to look, no pressure at all. I’m just here for vibes.”

The older gentleman perused my booth for a while, and I read my book by the edge of the table. After a moment, I noticed the energy in him shift. He stopped, staring at an Affirmations Post Card Print available on my table. After staring for a moment, he said in a quiet voice: “I’ll take this one, please.”

I packaged up the postcard print for him, and he handed me a 5 dollar bill.

The print was of the signature painting BREATHING from the series I created in April of 2024. One side of the print was the painting of a woman on her back, just resting. Just breathing. On the back of the print was the quote:

If I’ve learned anything about life, it’s that life goes on.

While I handed him the postcard, he told me that he’s currently struggling with an illness, and it shocked him when he received the diagnosis. He was having a hard time adjusting and processing it. He wanted the postcard to put on his wall, to look at in the morning, and remind himself: it goes on.

This is what I do it for. Because I know that art has the power to change lives. To offer a reminder, to be a symbol in times of struggle. To know that I am able to help others navigate painful and stressful situations is more than anything I ever wanted to achieve in life. And I am so grateful to have the opportunity to connect with others this way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jencarmiel.com
• Instagram: @jencarmiel
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jencarmiel
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/jencarmiel

Image Credits

Me & my lovely partner, Joseph! I take my own photos, and direct my partner how to frame the shot.