Meet Jen Sanborn | Artist

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

Hi Jen, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
One would think that my gauge of success would hinge upon the monetary value of my paintings. But it really doesn’t. I get more satisfaction from people collecting my work, and knowing that the messages within my artwork are getting out into the world. Now, I can’t afford to give my work away, as I still need to make a living. But in the end, success in my mind is based on my clientele loving my work enough to buy it, and to know that it hit an emotional chord with them.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I studied Art in college and earned a Bachelors of Fine Art from the University of Arizona. Early on in my career, I struggled a lot with balancing my work with raising a family. I constantly felt pulled in two directions. I couldn’t give my all to my kids, and I couldn’t give my all to my artwork. It was just something I had to make peace with. Did I make every sporting event? No, but I made it to some of them, and I also painted some cool paintings. Now my kids are grown and on their own, and my studio time is top priority.

When we first moved to our land, all I wanted to do was paint my dairy goats out in the sunshine. Goats are great fun to paint, and my goats were tolerant of my asking them to pose. In recent years,
I mostly paint the small wonders in the natural world that are easily passed by. Birds are especially important in my work. They are such small but powerful little packages of color, light and life. They zoom in and out of our vision with such clarity of purpose. I can’t help but see hope in their very existence. Besides birds, I paint trees, very up-close big trees. I loved getting right underneath the tree and painting it from below, and all the way up into its’ canopy. And then there’s the light, trickling in through the leaves, falling on the forest floor or on the trunks of the trees…It’s magical. And yet, the bird populations are dwindling, and trees don’t seem to hold much importance in America. So, I paint them. I want people to see the magic that is there, and I want them to recognize their importance in our lives.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live between the towns of Hotchkiss and Paonia, and I love to camp. So Id make a breakfast stop up at Root & Vine cafe which is also the home of Qutori Wines. It has an amazing view of the West Elk Mountain range from their patio. We’d eat our fill and then get plenty of homemade goodies for the road. Then we’d either head up towards Kebler Pass and into the aspen pine forests, or we’d head west out into the high desert towards Utah. My camper is self sufficient, so we can go anywhere on BLM land or National Forest and stay comfortable. I think the public land access in Colorado is one of the greatest gifts of living here.

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?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my husband, Kelly Allen. He has always supported my creative endeavors, and respected my long hours in the studio.

Website: Www.SanbornStudio.com

Instagram: @sanbornstudio &. @willownook

Image Credits
Sanborn Studio