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

Jillian Renee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Like many others, after college I pursued a ‘typical’ 9-5 job in corporate America as a means to an end; I was drowning in college debt and this was my way out. Being a creative in the very un-creative field of insurance I had a very challenging time trying to balance my yearning for creative expression and the grim necessity of paying bills. After years of trying to fit a square block into a round hole the universe stepped in and I was unexpectedly laid off from my corporate career. This was such a pivotal moment in my life where I could choose to jump back into a world I know I didn’t enjoy or I could forge an unknown path forward into a more fulfilling creative career. I knew that if I chose a life that was ultimately fulfilling to me and allowed me to express myself and live authentically then the rest of my life would fall into place. I think this world is thirsty for people who aggressively pursue the things that bring them joy and every day I’m so grateful to be able to do exactly that.

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.

When I first began painting again, I wasn’t confident in my artistic skills as I had been out of practice for some time, so I started creating tiny 2″ paintings because a small canvas was much less intimidating to me. After realizing I actually really loved making miniature paintings I looked around and realized that companies simply do not manufacture quality 2″ frames and that pushed me to figure out a way to make my own frames in my small home studio.

After countless trials and experiments I’ve come up with an archival process to handmake my own small batch miniature frames ranging from 0.5″ – 7″ that I fill with highly detailed gouache paintings; I affectionately call them my Mini Masterpieces. The art world is saturated with artists painting on enormous canvases, but how many of us have a wall that can fit an 8-foot painting? I believe that small art has a place in this world, it carries with it an inherit intimacy asking the viewer to take a moment to get closer to the painting and actually appreciate the details and in this world we could all use a moment of pause. When you’re viewing a miniature painting that moment is just for you, you’re the only one who is standing in front of it and able to really look at it and I just think that’s so incredibly special.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of living as a full-time fine artist is the abundance of connection I get to experience. For so many years in my life I worked endlessly at hiding the parts of myself that people told me are weird or ‘cringe’, but once I began to realize that those strange parts of me are exactly the parts that make me unique and deserve to be celebrated, I began to see beautiful changes in my creative life. We’re all a little silly and child-like and simply allowing yourself the freedom to express the full range of your weirdness can be profound. I think so many of us are yearning for community, or a deep connection with others and in sharing my life (especially in the world of social media) I’m able to tap into that community space and show other people that “hey, you’re not alone in this” and I think that’s really special.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My creative journey has evolved over the years, but at its core I create work that sparks joy and speaks to the essence of ‘home’. My art celebrates the beauty of simplicity – a bouquet of wildflowers sitting atop a crocheted doily that grandmother made on a table my grandfather built, or a painting of a viciously colorful sunset over a cornfield. To me, that’s home and we all carry a bit of home with us in everything we do. I create art to help remember special moments and people in my life, moments in time that are so simple and ordinary that they could get easily overlooked; but when you take a moment to pause and appreciate one small flower you can uncover its joy and beauty and amplify that to everyone around you. This world needs so many things to heal, but at the center of it all is a yearning for community and shared joy and perhaps my impossibly tiny paintings can help someone feel not so alone in their journey through this strange and wonderful life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jillianreneeart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillianreneeart/
• Other: TikTok: @JillianReneeArt

Image Credits

‘Small Moments’ photo by David Higuera