 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Jenna Fournier is a young American artist, song-writer, and performer.
Her art depicts unlikely and absurd situations, beauty and commentary on human behavior through vivid
colors and symbolism. It presents the state of an artist’s soul rather than real world phenomena. Dreams
and reality correlate in the most exquisite way. Rich and complex colors spread on the canvas, evoking
rather than describing, like chaotic thoughts of an amazing contemporary artist’s mind. Inspiration and
imagination come together on every canvas in the most unpredictable and unexpected way flavored by the
artist’s unique senses of sound, and color.
Jenna Fournier was born outside of Los Angeles to a traveling military family. She grew up all over, landing in Las Vegas, where she first
began to sell her art as a teenager working on the Strip. She currently resides in Cleveland, OH, co-owns an art gallery “THE O”, and
performs with her band “Nights”.
Her art depicts unlikely and absurd situations, beauty and commentary on human behavior through vivid
colors and symbolism. It presents the state of an artist’s soul rather than real world phenomena. Dreams
and reality correlate in the most exquisite way. Rich and complex colors spread on the canvas, evoking
rather than describing, like chaotic thoughts of an amazing contemporary artist’s mind. Inspiration and
imagination come together on every canvas in the most unpredictable and unexpected way flavored by the
artist’s unique senses of sound, and color.
Jenna Fournier was born outside of Los Angeles to a traveling military family. She grew up all over, landing in Las Vegas, where she first
began to sell her art as a teenager working on the Strip. She currently resides in Cleveland, OH, co-owns an art gallery “THE O”, and
performs with her band “Nights”.
MILA: Jenna, tell us about your painting 'The Monarch's Empire'. What’s the story behind it?
JENNA: The Monarch's Empire explores the idea of mind control through imagery based on the theory of
Monarch Programming. It is less a study of the theory itself, and more a commentary on the fragility
of the human mind.
MILA: Some of your paintings contain broken images- one theme on several separate canvases. Is there any
special idea behind that?
JENNA: Actually, no, I just like to have the option to hang pieces close together or on separate walls. I
sometimes (not always) consider interior design for the home when working, and I know that most
people don't have the wall space for a fifteen foot painting. If it's broken up, its able to work in a home
setting, and also easier for me to work on & transport. I hope to go larger soon though.
MILA: Do you remember the very first image/ picture your sold working as a teenager on the Strip in Las
Vegas? What was it?
JENNA: I started off drawing tattoos for people in the Outback that I worked in. Soon I was asked about my
painting. I did a flower vase from a photograph and a large ocean scene of fish and whales, neither of which
were really my style, but they were a paycheck. I sold them for a couple hundred bucks, and felt rich! The first
piece I sold that really came out of my own mind was of a man sitting on a park bench in the rain. When the
canvas was lit up in the back, several crying eyes appeared in the sky. I don't have a photograph of it.
MILA: If you have to describe Las Vegas in one word- what that word would be?
JENNA: One word is hard, but I'll use the name of a popular casino...MIRAGE.
MILA: If someone comes to visit you from Paris, what would be the first place you take this person in
Cleveland?
JENNA: A day at the Cleveland Museum of Art, dinner at the Greenhouse Tavern, followed by a concert at
Severance Hall, assuming they liked art, food, and music.
MILA: We all have one book that we read over and over again in childhood. It might not be the famous
story/ or writer, but it was the best for us. What book did you read at least twice when you were a child?
JENNA: The Giving Tree. It is still my favorite.
MILA: What are the individuals that influenced you the most? Do you have idols?
JENNA: Idols, no. I am influenced by many artists and musicians though, but I aspire mostly to be like my
mother: loving, caring, encouraging, patient, understanding, and inspiring to others in whatever I do, whether
making art or raising children one day.
MILA: What was the most exciting trip in your life? Where did you go?
JENNA: Rosarita, Mexico, 2002.
MILA: If you have to change one thing in Cleveland (besides the weather) what that thing would be?
JENNA: I suppose to bring more businesses and job opportunities downtown. Or to change the pessimistic
attitude of so many Clevelanders.
MILA: What is your “Painted Picture” 2012?
JENNA: I hope to integrate visual art into the live show for my music and take the band on the road in the
near future while building up the gallery.
JENNA: The Monarch's Empire explores the idea of mind control through imagery based on the theory of
Monarch Programming. It is less a study of the theory itself, and more a commentary on the fragility
of the human mind.
MILA: Some of your paintings contain broken images- one theme on several separate canvases. Is there any
special idea behind that?
JENNA: Actually, no, I just like to have the option to hang pieces close together or on separate walls. I
sometimes (not always) consider interior design for the home when working, and I know that most
people don't have the wall space for a fifteen foot painting. If it's broken up, its able to work in a home
setting, and also easier for me to work on & transport. I hope to go larger soon though.
MILA: Do you remember the very first image/ picture your sold working as a teenager on the Strip in Las
Vegas? What was it?
JENNA: I started off drawing tattoos for people in the Outback that I worked in. Soon I was asked about my
painting. I did a flower vase from a photograph and a large ocean scene of fish and whales, neither of which
were really my style, but they were a paycheck. I sold them for a couple hundred bucks, and felt rich! The first
piece I sold that really came out of my own mind was of a man sitting on a park bench in the rain. When the
canvas was lit up in the back, several crying eyes appeared in the sky. I don't have a photograph of it.
MILA: If you have to describe Las Vegas in one word- what that word would be?
JENNA: One word is hard, but I'll use the name of a popular casino...MIRAGE.
MILA: If someone comes to visit you from Paris, what would be the first place you take this person in
Cleveland?
JENNA: A day at the Cleveland Museum of Art, dinner at the Greenhouse Tavern, followed by a concert at
Severance Hall, assuming they liked art, food, and music.
MILA: We all have one book that we read over and over again in childhood. It might not be the famous
story/ or writer, but it was the best for us. What book did you read at least twice when you were a child?
JENNA: The Giving Tree. It is still my favorite.
MILA: What are the individuals that influenced you the most? Do you have idols?
JENNA: Idols, no. I am influenced by many artists and musicians though, but I aspire mostly to be like my
mother: loving, caring, encouraging, patient, understanding, and inspiring to others in whatever I do, whether
making art or raising children one day.
MILA: What was the most exciting trip in your life? Where did you go?
JENNA: Rosarita, Mexico, 2002.
MILA: If you have to change one thing in Cleveland (besides the weather) what that thing would be?
JENNA: I suppose to bring more businesses and job opportunities downtown. Or to change the pessimistic
attitude of so many Clevelanders.
MILA: What is your “Painted Picture” 2012?
JENNA: I hope to integrate visual art into the live show for my music and take the band on the road in the
near future while building up the gallery.
INTERVIEW WITH JENNA by Mila Maksimova |
Jenna Fournier. The photograph is courtesy of Jenna Fournier.
| The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used except with the prior written permission of www.galagallery.org |
| >> MORE PROFILES << |