I first became familiar with Providence-based artist, Jenny Brown, work on Instagram and was immediately intrigued by her collages and drawings. I love how she combines color and the use of different materials that we see in nature such as flowers, sea creatures and stars. Each piece is unique and tells a different story. Jenny kindly gives a peek inside her art-filled Olneyville studio and shares where she gets her inspiration from, her morning routine and why she loves having a studio in Providence, Rhode Island.
What does a typical morning look like for you?
Coffee and emails first thing. Yoga if I'm motivated and at least one hour of sorting and "organizing" my collage materials. My husband calls it my "making a new pile from an old pile" process.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you?
I always start my days in the studio by sitting with a cup of coffee and just enjoying the space. My studio was my kitchen table for a decade prior to moving into my current space, so I always take a moment to appreciate having it! From there, my day can unfold in a number of ways. I often come in having one thing to work on and then I'm immediately distracted by something on my desk that ends up engaging me for hours. Some days, are hyper-productive, while other days I don't make it past reading emails. But, they are always happy days when I am in my studio.
How would you describe your artwork in one sentence?
This sentence is constantly evolving, but I think my work and practice is best summed up this way for this moment—the study of the beauty and mystery of time, space and matter through collage and drawing.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
History, science, a love of line and abstract composition, antique collecting, old paper, nostalgia, Rhode Island's beautiful coast line, and what I like to call "out of season" flowers and other natural phenomena.
Did you always know you wanted to be an artist?
I did always know on some level, but it took me until I was about 20 years old to say it out loud and pursue an education that focused on art. Once I made that decision, I never looked back.
Why Providence? What do you love about living and working here?
I moved to Providence in 2008 when I met my husband. He had bought a condo in PVD back in 2001 and loved living there, so we decided Providence should be our home base (rather than him moving to Boston where I was living at the time). Providence is the perfect combination of cool and quirky, and alive with creative energy, even in these chaotic and uncertain times. It's a great place to be an artist.
What are your desk side essentials?
An iced latte (picked up at either The Nitro Bar or Blush Bakeshop en route to my studio), and some sparkling water or seltzer- raspberry Bubly being my preferred flavor. I must have multiple cold beverages within arms reach at all times!
Last good book you read?
I'm not quite finished with it yet, but I've been making my way through Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel, which follows the careers of some of my favorite artists—Grace Hartigan, Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell and Elaine deKooning.
Images courtesy of Jenny Brown
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