Meet Jenifer Livesey | Contemporary collage artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenifer Livesey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenifer, what inspires you?
Whenever I go out into nature I feel surrounded by beauty, peace and calmness. I am inspired by the shapes of branches and leaves, the colors of stones, dirt and grasses and the movement of the flowing water. There is a simplicity in nature that I like to bring into my art work. I am also inspired by the shapes, colors and textures in modern society. When I create my cairn (stacked rock) pieces, I do not feel obliged to represent nature realistically which gives me the freedom to experiment with form, design and color. I like to blend contemporary aspects of modern life with the simple beauty of nature in my pieces. In North America cairns are often used to guide hikers on trails. When we break cairns down further we see the stones are in a delicate balance with each other unifying to create a higher purpose. Balance. Guidance. Unity. This is what my cairns symbolize. We must reflect upon these principles alone but also on a larger scale. I want the viewer to enter my piece and consider the symbiotic relationship we must have with ourselves but also with the earth. The scope of my work is an awareness of the importance of living harmoniously with nature.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I didn’t begin my art career until the beginning of 2019. As a kid I loved art. I was always coloring, designing dresses and was just fascinated by anything artistic. I distinctly remember being a kid and my mom taking me to Main Street Arts Festival in Fort Worth. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Everything was so amazing. Somehow I ended up going down a different path through the years though. I ended up in the medical field for years and thought I wanted to become a doctor. It wasn’t until I worked as a surgical technologist that I began to realize that this career wasn’t for me. Not having a formal education I worked various jobs until I had my daughter in 2015. At an early age I realized she had the same love of art that I did as a kid. She was always drawing, painting or coloring. In December of 2018 I picked up a paint brush for the very first time since I was a kid. What started as bonding time with my daughter made me realize my passion. The spark came back. I knew that art is what I loved to do. I began submerging myself in all things art. Learning what I could from home while being a stay at home mom first. I learn well in a school setting so trying to learn on my own presented a challenge for me. At the time I didn’t even know the terms to use to look up what I wanted to learn about but through stubbornness and determination I persevered. I began in fluid acrylics and learned every technique I could. I transitioned to resin work shortly after and did a few shows where my work was well received. I began my current line of work after feeling like I got everything I could from fluid acrylics. Plus, everyone was doing it so I wanted something different. While learning about fluid acrylics I dabbled in other mediums and took a liking to inks. Using inks in the manner that I do is what sets my work apart. I don’t put them on a brush and paint. I use them in their fluid form and allow them to dance across my substrate. I love that they can be unpredictable. I enjoy how the reactions between inks can completely change how I need to respond to get the effect I desire. It keeps me on my toes and adapting. I also like the transparency the inks give which creates a lighter feel. Whether I’m using marker inks or tattoo inks I can layer them just as I would an acrylic but the effect is different. I think the use of inks as well as my fusion of natural and modern elements is what sets my work apart from others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man. Well after 2020 do we even go out? Ha. Okay so I grew up in Fort Worth and I love all of the DFW area so it’s hard to choose. As a nature lover I’d also have to hit the Botanic Gardens (after grabbing some BBQ) for a picnic and some walking through the gardens. Next up would be to go in downtown and have a cocktail at the Flying Saucer. Then maybe head to the stockyards or just walk the streets of downtown. Maybe for dinner we’d head over to the Magnolia Avenue and find something new. I’d also have to take them to Dallas and hit the arts district. It’s just so cool down there too. The Dallas Arboretum is a must for me. They always do such a good job maintaining the grounds. If the time was right we’d hit the Dallas Farmers Market too. Rex’s seafood would be a must!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As a self taught artist I’m not able to rely on the teachings of instructors. I am thankful for those artists that put their art and techniques on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. However, I have had tremendous support in my journey from my family particularly my husband. He has been the one to encourage me to embrace my ideas and has encouraged me to put my work out there and to continue learning. Without his support I may not have had the courage to continue. I do also want to recognize Sarah Green from the city of North Richland Hills. She is the cultural arts coordinator for the city and has provided great encouragement over the past few years. For someone who is very busy teaching and curating I truly appreciate the time and kindness that she has shown me.

Website: www.jlartgallery.com

Instagram: jlartgallery