Jen Sievers
RJ: Tell us a bit about your work and style, how long have you been in this industry?
JS: I've been creating and selling my art for eight and a half years. I mainly paint abstracts and landscapes, but I like to try new things and experiment. The most distinctive aspect of my art is my use of colour. I love colour! I use my palettes to create a sense of calm with splashes of playfulness, and I always infuse my art with joy. Along with creating my art, I also mentor and teach artists, and I'm currently working on a book that will be published late this year. The book is about my other obsession - joy!
RJ: How has your journey in the industry empowered you as a woman?
JS: Building my art business has completely changed my life. It empowered me to quit my day job in 2020 and to design a life that works for me. I can be there for my daughter at school pick-ups, take my dogs for walks and work the hours that I want to. Being a business owner means that I work A LOT, but I love what I do, and I don't feel guilty taking the occasional day off for no reason. I also feel creatively empowered; having supportive stockists (like yourselves!) and collectors means that I can express myself how I want to and still pay the bills. I also love empowering more women to follow their creative dreams - I believe in lifting people up; there's enough for all of us.
RJ: In celebrating International Women's Day, can you highlight a female figure whose work and distinctive style have inspired you?
JS: My biggest inspiration in creativity and life is Liz Gilbert, the author of Big Magic and many other beautiful books. Her style of living inspires me. She's unapologetically herself and has a huge heart. She seems more closely connected to whatever sends us our creative ideas than anyone else. She wrote a book called 'Big Magic' which explains her theory of how creativity works, and it resonates so beautifully with how I see the world - it has inspired so much of what I do.
