Meet Jen
My goal in all I do is to add hope
& beauty to the world.
WELCOME!
My goal in all I do is to add beauty
to the world.
Hi, my name is Jen Alward and I am so glad you stopped by!
I live in the Northwoods of Wisconsin with my two dogs where there are new inspirations with every season.
Professionally, I am an Artist, Art Therapist, and Author. More personally I am a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, child of God, and I am looking forward to getting to know you.
Follow along with me
as I "learn to see" more clearly:
Instagram - Newsletter
- YouTube -Blog - Podcast
Contact me with Questions
or to commission a piece of your own.
If you'd like to know more about Art Therapy check out Hope and Healing at Home:
Join our membership and let's learn to see together:
Even before I could hold a pencil, paintbrush, or camera I was easily captivated and distracted by the wonder in the world around me.
Rocks from the gravel driveway.
Wildflowers along the road.
Perfectly preserved butterflies, bumble bees discovered in the green house.
The skulls of a small animal from a camping trip with grandpa.
Leaves, sticks, and feathers.
Unique bits of rusting metal or an entire rotting trailer.
All these things and more have found their way into my pockets and home. Magazine images fill bins and screen shots collect in my phone awaiting the time to be drawn, painted, or collaged into new life.
I am a collector of beauty
Even though others may not see the treasure it holds.
Surely my mother's display of cleaned rocks made their way back to the driveway and my grandma risked asthma attacks for years from those beautiful yellow flowers I brought her (goldenrod is quite the allergen).
Jen in Wisconsin at 1.
Perhaps it is the story, or a thing's potential, that is the treasure.
Jen in the Swiss Alps at 40.
This past year (2019) has been full of so many things and as I reviewed my artistic ventures I realized a theme. Through different mediums and classes, styles and subjects — I was learning to see!
To see detail.
To see what’s really there.
To see values and colors.
To see things from different angles and perspectives.
And then I realized that learning to see not only improves my art, it transforms everything in my life. From my attitude, to my relationships, to the way I look at the world, and how I experience God.
Learning to see helps me think differently too.
Thank you Danica @projectgriefart
Carrie @carriemurwinart
Lynn @lovelifelarge
Grace @gracebaileyartist
Dimitra & Elli @milanartinstitute
Matt @thethrivingchristianartist
a variety of Paint Your Heart & Soul artists #pyhas2020
and so many other artists, teachers, books, songs, animals, sunsets, and people (before & after this list) for inspiring and encouraging me!
May we all keep learning to see, to look, to slow down and pay attention. God is revealing Himself and His amazing gifts in the most ordinary and surprising ways!
May we recognize the abundance of treasure around, and within, us all.
Our family in 2019: Ben, Josie, Jes, Jayden, Janlee, Zach, Jake, Sue, Catharine, Elizabeth, Ann, Rob, John, Jen & Jim. Missing are the dogs: Tanq, Baxter, Buddy & Pepper.
Not one thing came into being without Him. His breath filled all things with a living, breathing light. A light that shines in the dark and blazes through the murky bottoms. The darkness did not understand it and cannot overpower it.
The light cannot and will not be quenched.
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