Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Cancel.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well, I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember. It’s always been a part of who I am, and I’ve never been able to imagine my life without it. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time reading art books and learning about art history, and I always knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the arts although I never considered myself to be a great painter or anything.
After finishing high school, I tried going to University but during my time there, I learned that going to college wasn’t the path that was meant for me. I didn’t know where my life was headed and felt lost. I spent some time working in the restaurant industry and later moved on to become a life and health insurance broker.
One day I decided to start drawing, painting, and epoxy resin crafting as a hobby and found out I was quite good at it. I started to focus on building my portfolio and getting my work out there. I started making videos on a platform called “byte” where I gained a lot of popularity and then moved on to TikTok. I also started to connect with other artists and art lovers online, which helped me to build a network and get my work seen by more people.
Over time, I started to get more and more recognition for my work. I landed a few commissions, and some of my pieces were even commissioned by people from all over the world including Europe and Asia. It was a slow and steady process, but I kept pushing myself to create and improve, and I never gave up on my dream. After 5 years of working in the insurance industry, I made the jump and quit my full-time office job to pursue a career as an artist.
Today, I’m lucky enough to be able to make a living from my art. I still face challenges and setbacks, of course, but I’m grateful for all of the opportunities that have come my way. I never forget how hard I worked to get here, and I’m always looking for ways to keep growing and evolving as an artist.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest struggles for me was finding a way to support myself financially while still pursuing my passion.
Creating art can be a time-consuming and expensive process, and it can be difficult to make a living from it, especially in the early stages of your career.
Another challenge I faced was self-doubt and imposter syndrome. It can be easy to compare yourself to other artists and feel like your work isn’t good enough. The creative process can be a vulnerable one, and it can be difficult to put your work out there for others to critique.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a resin artist which means that I work primarily with epoxy resin to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art. I specialize in creating preserved floral art, memorabilia, and gifts for people to give their loved ones that are personalized and unique. I’m known for my use of vibrant colors, as well as my ability to help people turn their visions to life.
What I’m most proud of is the fact that I’ve been able to turn my passion for art into a successful career. When I first started working with resin, I had no idea where it would take me, but I kept creating and experimenting until I found my own unique style. Now, I have a loyal following of collectors who appreciate my work.
I think what sets me apart from other resin artists is my attention to detail and my willingness to push the boundaries of what’s possible with this medium. I spend a lot of time experimenting with different colors, textures, and techniques to create pieces that are truly unique. I also strive to create pieces that are both beautiful and functional, such as resin tables and serving trays, domino sets, and mahjong sets.
Overall, I feel incredibly grateful to be able to do what I love every day, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I was a quiet and timid child. In school, I was a straight-A student and did very well with intellectual pursuits. I loved reading and learning about art and knew that I wanted to work with art but my parents were not always so accepting of me pursuing art and encouraged me to study other things that would lead to a more traditional career path.
In middle school and high school, I started expressing my love of art through social media, photography, and drawing. I took a 3D art class in high school which led me to win an award at a local art festival for making a life-sized person out of medical gauze. Eventually, I was also voted “most artistic” for my high school yearbook because I became known around school for being very creative.
Contact Info:
- Website: Uwuartbyjen.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/UwU.art.by_jen
- Facebook: facebook.com/UwUartbyjenn/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@UwUartbyjen
Image Credits
Lynette Ortiz Photography and Jennifer Cancel
