We were lucky to catch up with Jenevieve Broomall recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jenevieve, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

My whole artistic journey has been one massive risk after another. Currently, I am taking a risk right now in collaborating and illustrating an entire graphic novel!

But my first big risk starting this whole creative journey that’s been over a decade long started when I was 6 months pregnant with my first child and I was laid off from my temp job because I was, well–pregnant.

A little bit of history, I have NOT been drawing/illustrating since I could hold a crayon. I dropped it in college, I did not go to art school. Art was something I was good at but never gave much thought in making it a career choice. I simply walked away from drawing and painting to pursue a degree in musical theatre, still a creative career choice but vastly different. It was fun in college, I found that I could sing, that I finally got to have dance classes my parents couldn’t afford when I was a child. My parents cried at my first dance recital because I didn’t get that opportunity and I worked so hard to get en point, very hard to do as an adult but I was determined. I say all this because drawing was the furthest from my mind.

Graduating I auditioned and auditioned and auditioned. I got to perform but the joy was gone, it was now a job and it’s a hard job to pursue. My skin was not thick enough for the constant criticism so I did temp jobs between gigs and turned back to art as a way to self sooth. I did this until I had an accident where I lost the ability to use my dominant hand. That was a pivotal moment for me because I didn’t realize how important drawing was for me and for my sanity. I missed it. I loved it. So I relearned how to use my dominant hand and just came back to drawing constantly.

I wasn’t good though. I was in my early twenties by then, 21, 22 maybe? And yes, I had support from my then fiancé, family and friends but their feedback, though from a place of love, wasn’t the truth. My art stunk. I received a harsh criticism from an artist, his art critique was spot on but for whatever reason that day he felt like attacking me on a personal level. He asked my age, I told him and he then proceeded to tell me I was too old to really start trying and because I was a woman and engaged (fiancé was right beside me his jaw on the floor at this point) I was going to have kids soon and therefore no time because I would be a mom.

I admit it, I cried. I ran and cried. Snot bubbles and all. But I took his criticism of my artwork seriously, after all it WAS good advice. So I studied, I studied constantly, I drew what I hated until I was better at it. Remember I got to en point as an adult, I have a stubborn streak that tends to love proving people wrong. If it’s something I can work on and improve I will do it.

I have always loved comics and visual storytelling. By this time I was too far away from college to really go back and because I am a traditional artist all the digital work was overwhelming and all anyone wanted to teach. So I researched the companies I wanted to work for, found their submission processes and started gathering work to submit.

Que the lay off. Six months pregnant, no job and it seemed like this man’s prediction would come true. I sat down with my husband and we talked, we talked about my art, we discussed his job and what our options were. A baby on the way, going to one income, and there was no guarantee I would get work–was a MASSIVE risk. We took it. We planned and cut corners in order for all of this to happen. I submitted my work to so many companies and a year later I got my first gig with some independent comic companies as a Cover Illustrator.

I worked as a Cover Illustrator for 12 years getting consistent work from most independent companies and working for everyone but the Big Two. I had a second child in this time as well and yes work-life balance is insane but we managed.

In 2020 I stepped away from comics for mental health reasons due to the pandemic. Not to mention I was homeschooling as well due to the pandemic. It was a stressful time and I was tired of the same superhero genre as an artist. We happened to be back home where I grew up and there was a ton of rain so there were mushrooms everywhere! I started painting mushroom people. I was exploring watercolors for the first time and they were such a great way to vent. A friend of mine, Jarrett Melendez, saw these on my socials and asked if he could write a short story, Jarrett is a great writer and we just started building this little world together. It was our escape from all the insanity happening. Later that year he needed an extra story for his agent and didn’t have one so he asked if he could add ‘Fungo’ into the batch as a wild card. I told him absolutely, that way he wouldn’t have to stress about another story! Well, she loved it. She then asked if she could shop the story and art around to publishers.

Now, I am currently illustrating “Fungo: The Legend of Cep’ for Andrews McMeel Publishing and I am reminded of why I love comics in the first place, I love the visual storytelling. I want to keep telling stories and for them to come from me or a wonderful collaboration like what I am doing with Jarrett. My children are older now and because this is an all-ages graphic novel they love to add their opinions to the work. It is work, there are days I wonder–“What on Earth did you get yourself into!?” In the end, the joy is there and I have no idea if this will be a success or a failure but I can say I did this, we made a beautiful book and if it makes even one person smile then I have done my job.

I will continue to tell visual stories. It’s a risk I am will to take over and over.
It’s never too late.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a traditional artist, I work primarily in pencils, inks and watercolors. Sometimes gouche but I am figuring out that medium slowly.

I am self-taught but with the benefit of growing up with creative artistic parents. They taught me the fundamentals then told me to look at the world and draw what I see. My style is vastly different from my parents and other family members but we embrace all forms of creativity.

Currently I am starting over rebranding myself. In the sea of digital art it is daunting to be a traditional illustrator. Most companies want digital, I get it, it’s faster and easier to edit. Sadly, my brain just does not compute and I struggle to retain the medium that is digital painting. I do love it though, it’s beautiful what artists can do but I love seeing the paint on the paper and getting my fingers dirty.

I guess what I am most proud of with all of this is staying authentic to myself now. I did fall into that rut of doing what everyone wanted. You kind of lose your creative voice doing that and it’s hard to rediscover yourself. Now, what I’m creating is simply put what brings me joy.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

To disconnect. It’s ok to listen to others but I got caught up in everyone else’s input and lost what was unique to me. It’s so easy to fall into that: “What does the audience want?” or when people tell you “You know what you should draw?” Or the worst: “We don’t want you because we don’t hire traditional artists.” That last one stung and was hard.

A healthy disconnect is good. Rekindle that curiosity and play you used to experience with art. Stop worrying about the end result and just play. I’m not saying become a hermit, just when you find yourself going down the rabbit hole of self doubt and comparing yourself to others–take a beat and look at the beauty around you. Do something that brings you joy without the critique.

Also: Rest is NOT lazy. You can’t give from an empty cup.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Like an athlete an artist has trained for decades to hone their craft. Yes, they might have had more of an aptitude for being creative but it’s not all some mystical talent. Just like learning how to play a sport or an instrument it takes time, dedication, failure and triumph. Embrace creative spaces and don’t be fearful to join! You never know, you could rekindle a passion or find a new hobby! It’s never too late and it doesn’t have to be a job–it’s your joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jenbroomall.com
• Instagram: @jenevievebpainting
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenevieveBpainting
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenevieve-broomall-15936729/
• Other: TikTok: @jenevievebpainting

Image Credits
Jenevieve Broomall