We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jenna Fox a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna , thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My mother, my beautiful mother Elizabeth. We would be here for a lifetime if I gave you a list of all the things she did right. For starters, she nurtured my creativity from a very young age. I’m sure it had a lot to do with her being an active creative herself in between working full time and supporting us. Some of my earliest memories are painting ceramics with her and my grandma.

She provided me with my first experience with polymer clay, colored pencils, crayons, paint, you name it. The incredible positive reinforcement when I would create something and show it to her was extremely nourishing as child. She herself was a master crocheter, quilter, sewer, handmade gift giver and beyond. She encountered many trials and tribulations throughout her life being a single mom, but she always prevailed and kept going. She was a tremendously resilient woman. A shining example of what it looks like to lead and create with your heart.

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’m a 28 year old Ohio-based, Mexican-American multi-media artist! My talents include professional makeup artistry, being a pet portrait artist, and I also create original artwork in my free time.

My world revolves around creatively making ends meet. It’s sometimes hard to balance working part-time and showing up for my business, but I’m endlessly dedicated and passionate about it. I love connecting with people and constantly broadening my world view. Mental health is important to me and I struggle deeply with depression in my adulthood. Art has been a coping mechanism for me throughout my life, and as I grow older, I couldn’t imagine my days without it. I like to pull a lot of inspiration from current music I’m listening to, film, bright colors, my constant ever-changing emotions, life experiences, nature, and so much more.

When I moved back to Ohio after college, so many great opportunities found their way to me. One being networking with local photographers. That’s where my fondness for special occasion makeup really transpired, whether it was for a photoshoot or not. Weddings also became a part of my repertoire shortly after. I fell in love with my position of providing that special experience of getting your makeup done on special days. I’m able to empower and lift people up with my artistry all while connecting and providing a safe and relaxing space for those in my chair. That has been a part of my creative menu for six years now. It has taken me to so many different places. I have met so many wonderful people. I didn’t expect my makeup artistry to take me where it has, but I am grateful for it everyday. I believe in the power of creation, and makeup is included in that. I think it can be tremendously healing to see yourself in a different light, which we all need sometimes. I’ve seen the power of a different perspective time and time again. We all deserve to see ourselves in our uniqueness and natural beauty, to see that our raw humanity is beautiful in every version of ourselves. Makeup is about expression. It’s not about rules, gender norms or the countless boxes society tries to put us in. Come as you are.

Pursuing my pet portraits journey is something that is derived deeply from my background in loving and appreciating animals throughout my life. I know how strongly we connect with our pet companions. I pour a massive amount of love into every single one of my portraits. Watercolor paints and colored pencils are my preferred medium to create each unique, one of a kind piece. It’s been beautiful seeing my skills transform over the years and it’s something that’s very special to me.

I also create original artwork when I can. Typically it includes acrylic paintings, sculpting little creations, and painting the lump sum of ceramics in my basement that have been collected by my mom throughout my lifetime. All practices bring me equal joy and tons of smiles along the way.

All in all, I truly believe that love is the way out when dealing with any of life’s misfortunes, and that you can do anything as long as you put your heart in it.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Unfortunately, my mother passed away very unexpectedly in 2015 when I was 20. A world shifting trauma that turned everything upside down for me. That was the catalyst that led my creative journey to where it is today.

At the time of her passing, I was currently passionately enrolled in veterinary technician school where I had already completed a full year of education. I’ve always had a strong connection with animals, nature, wildlife, etc., and seeking a field where I would be helping them was a path that I was eager to navigate. I took a semester off to grieve the loss of my mother and didn’t really look back.

During my time off from school, I experienced a plane of post traumatic growth. I have so much gratitude for my education and experience I got at vet tech school. My passion for zoology and natural science are still very alive in me today, but ultimately I decided I wanted a different life for myself. I envisioned one that included pursuing the arts, whether it was going to be a struggle or not, I was determined to make this happen for myself. I knew it was the right choice and one that would’ve made my mom so proud. She believed in me like no other, especially when it came to my artistic abilities.

Shortly after, I dropped everything here in Ohio and moved to the Pittsburgh area where I attended school to pursue an education in special makeup effects. It was there where I began to really develop and strengthen my skills as an artist. Sculpting, painting, and makeup artistry really began to sink its teeth into me and my passion for it only grew. As a lover of makeup, monsters, and movies in combination with a curiosity of how it all works really blossomed my skill set throughout my experience there. Existing in a community of artists and mentors, learning so much whilst building connections and deep friendships along the way is really enough for me to reflect on and know that the life-changing decision that I made for myself was the right one. One of the best decisions I could’ve ever made for myself and I would choose it a thousand times over.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think it’s definitely connecting with people. Through my expressions I get to connect and get to know myself better and I get the opportunity to connect with others in the process. I think it’s also what I receive spiritually through my practices, art can feel like meditation and I’m sure a lot of us can attest to that. It silences my brain and gives me the opportunity to spend time with myself when I’m working on pieces. Art has taught me patience, new perspectives, and how to heal.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_creative.fox_?igsh=OTI5czBvMHR2andw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100061913916575&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits

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