Interview by Jimon

1-Where do you live and create at the moment?  I live  with my wife and three lovely Persian kitties in a house in San Jose, CA.

2-Where did you study art and do you think Art school was necessary for your process?  I didn’t go to art school. My degree was in English/literature, and I worked in high tech until I retired earlier this year. Now I am a full time artist and I feel like a kid during summer vacation.

Although I didn’t go to art school, I’ve taken quite a few workshops from artists I admire. I also regularly spend time studying art that resonates with me and seeking out new inspirations. I’ve got a collection of books by artists I love, and I can flip through any one of these to relight my burners if I’m feeling blocked.

So, for me, art school wasn’t a requirement. However, I think it might have been nice to get some of the basics — techniques, color theory, etc. Even just the forced practice/discipline might have expanded my skill set.

3-Describe Jenifer Renzel in one word? Imaginative

4-Your work is very unique in nature, What is the inception of your work?  I think many of my ideas percolate in the back of my mind as I go about my day. I’m a very visual person, so as I’m out and about, I often see inanimate objects that make me think of a character or scene. I see rocks with faces, faces in trees, weird mechanical, electrical or water fixtures, graffiti, who knows! Sometimes, before I fall asleep, I see images floating by, things I might paint or draw the next morning. Sometimes it’s a specific creature, sometimes I see a certain color combination, and sometimes it’s totally random.

I also soak up imagery and ideas from books and movies. I love old SciFi and horror films, and I love old and new books of the same genres. I can pick up a paperback and enter into a completely crazy world full of Martians and chaos, war and salvation, characters, and landscapes (I’m thinking of a recent book l read, The War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells). I’m inspired by that sort of world building.

5- What advice would you give putative collectors?  I suggest buying pieces that blow you away at first look and then keep you looking for more. I think about what I want to look at every day to give me energy and enthusiasm.

6-How do you describe success as an artist?  That’s an interesting question because it’s difficult to answer. One way I think about it is that I spend hours and hours every day creating art, losing time, and having fun. That is a success in itself.

The other measures of success, such as sales or “likes” on social media, come with challenges. For example, I often find that what I consider to be my best work doesn’t get as much attention as other pieces. My idea of a big success or a breakthrough isn’t apparent to others. I have to ignore this and follow my path or I think I’ll be misguided and unhappy.

7- If you could live in a museum anywhere in the world which would it be?  The folk art museum in Santa Fe: https://www.moifa.org/collection/

8-What do you dream about?  I have crazy, scary dreams where I’m being chased or menaced by Satanists and zombies. I also have dreams where I can fly and where I see dead family members. I think everyone has crazy dreams, don’t they? I have recurring dreams about sitting at a little desk back in grade school. I’m all grown up, surrounded by little kids, and stressed because I know I have a real job and should be at work.

9-Do you have a routine when you arrive in your studio?  On an even-keeled day, I get up, caffeinate, do a light workout, get dressed, and go into the studio around 8:30 or 9:00. I put on an audio book and start drawing/painting. I go for a couple of hours before I take my first break.

On a more scattered day, I go into the studio in my PJs (with coffee) and get to work. I sort of wake up later and do a reset.

10-Do you listen to music or prefer to work in silence? I listen to audio books. Typically horror, science fiction, or thrillers.

11- How do you decide when a painting is complete?  I used to decide I was finished when I couldn’t take it anymore. I was motivated by impatience more than by intuition. As I’ve evolved, I’ve become more comfortable and happy. If I pull back from a piece that I feel is close to be done and then revisit it a day or two later with fresh eyes. I’ve also found that if I photograph a piece and look at it that way, I see things that I want to fix or change.

12-Do you paint one canvas at a time or multiple?  I work on paper and always have two or more going at the same time. I put one aside when I feel uninspired or blocked. An artist I really admire helped me understand that when I’m enjoying myself, I make better art. If I can keep moving and feeling that creative high, the work comes out better and I have more fun on the way. I try to avoid staring at a piece when I feel blocked. It just creates a ball of negative energy.

13-Do you have a place/person/thing that you visit for inspiration?  I have some go-to books with lots of paintings and drawings by artists I love. My collection of books represents diverse styles and subjects, so I can bounce off in any direction.  My aesthetic is towards a dada style. Things don’t have to make sense or go together logically. They just need to evoke a feeling of play and crazy energy.

14-If you could have dinner with three artists living/dead who would be at your table? Basquiat, Hieronymus Bosch, Kinki Texas

15-Name three things you can’t live without in your studio? Good lighting, An organized workspace, Lots of art supplies, drawing stuff, acrylic paint, watercolors, paint pens, different sizes of paper, etc.

16-How would someone find you on Social media?  Instagram: @jenifer_renzel

17-Please name the first thing that comes to your mind while reading the following:

Art= Joy

Food= Pepperoni Pizza

Sports= Football

Politics= Rage

Poor=  Guilt

God= Fairy tale

Rich= Guilt

Luxury= Free time

Sex= Complicated

Picasso= Meh

Religion= Irrational