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

Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I went to art school (RISD) and studied textile design. I went right to NYC after school and worked at a company creating printed patterns on fabric for fashion. They trained me to mix colors exactly and basically to copy! Learning gouache from the very basics were so essential. Even copying was a great thing at the time because I learned to make so many different types of marks and designs. I became an art director in this business and spent many years buying art and having artists in the studio paint them up. For a very long time I didn’t paint at all. Which sounds a bit like a big problem. But when I finally got back to it I knew how to use the paint to create what I wanted and my eye was developed from looking at so much art. I started a 30 minute a day sketchbook practice for 6 years and I developed my style that way. I put in a huge amount of hours into this practice. If I could go back, I wish I had been painting from the beginning and hadn’t given it up. I wish I had had more confidence and took more risks with basically everything!

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

I am a painter and Illustrator. My work has been featured on many products worldwide, tabletop ceramics from Anthropologie, Packaging for chocolates and perfumes, stationary and greeting cards, fabric, fashion, Kate Spade home and many more. I also do paintings hoping for a gallery show one day! When I started my daily sketchbook practice in 2014 I quickly got an agent who helped me break into the licensing industry. It was a great collaboration but I have since gone out on my own for more autonomy.
In my work I create art in my style, and make it work for the product they are selling. I sometimes create new work that is specific to them and their needs or we work from an existing piece of art.
I am most proud that I have stayed true to my intuitive, joyful way of painting, but also have slowly shifted the look over the years while still maintaining me. That is what my clients look for and hire me for.
I also teach painting workshops worldwide with my co teacher Gayle Kabaker which is exciting and inspiring for everyone involved.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I believe that true authenticity and consistency is the best way to build up a following. I know there are lots of rules out there, make reels, have a color theme for your grid, I don’t know them all. But because social media is so fluid and so much depends on the algorithm it is changing constantly. The only way I can do it without getting all caught up in the numbers is to post the work that I’m doing, whether the best or not and talk about the struggle or the joy of it. When I started out posting in 2013 it was different, I posted my 30 minute painting a day with a caption and my following grew over the years. There was no huge jump, just a steady growth over years, Now it’s much more volatile. It’s very important to keep your piece of mind with it all and remember the most important part is to be true to the work you want to make and to yourself.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

After many years in the textile industry in NY I was pretty miserable, I cut my hours back because I almost couldn’t bear it anymore. I started getting back into drawing and painting, then learning some digital painting techniques. It was ok, but I wasn’t happy. I had no purpose and I cried a lot. In 2013 I took an online art class (which I had never done before) and found a tribe of amazing women who all had the similar goals and dreams to make art and make a living from it. We became such good friends, had shared experiences and are still friends. Making the decision to take this very expensive class was what started me on my sketchbook journey. I learned that my happiness now comes from knowing I can create everyday, bring joy to the people looking at my art, and my circle of friends. The joy isn’t about the jobs I’ve gotten from it, which are plenty, it’s the community and the self confidence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.augustwren.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/augustwren/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Augustwren
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferorkinlewis/
• Other: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/paintwithgayleandjennifer

Image Credits
copyright Jennifer Orkin Lewis/AugustWren