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In The Studio
A Magical RetreatWhat I do as an artist is create worlds, then invite you to experience them. Creating starts as a feeling, often unclear, something between a warm glow and an itch I can’t scratch. I start chiseling away at the feeling, through words or art, watching as it starts to take form. Sometimes I see in my mind the direction I want to take, other times it is like following a winding road just to see where it goes.
Each world is different, the end result depends on the feeling I’m following. Often the worlds are filled with beauty, magic, and celebration. Others take a dark turn, exploring paths of pain, isolation, and sorrow. Creation and destruction, life and death, light and darkness - these are two sides of same coin. You cannot fully explore one without the other.
My studio is a world that I have created. It is ethereal; a world of depth, beauty, and magic. Each object has been carefully curated and arranged to a cultivate a feeling of safety and possibilities. I am surrounded by things that I find beautiful, smells that invigorate me, and music that ignites the fire of my soul. My studio is the nest where I nurture ideas that will one day take flight.
Nature is my primary source of inspiration. One of my favorite areas in the studio is my windowsill altar, refreshed each season with objects gathered from outside. The altar is a representation of my intention to live authentically and in harmony with natural cycles. My crafting table overlooks this area so I can center my energy before creating. I am also inspired by the beauty and history of antiques, particularly from the late 1800s to early 1900s. The blend of functionality and beauty during this time period reminds me to find and infuse beauty into everyday life. I have a few antiques in my studio; my favorite is the mirrored French armoire where I store my sewing fabrics.
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I am passionate about a multitude of mediums, consider me an artistic adventurer on an expedition of creative exploration. I enjoy sewing, it is soothing but also has the challenge of using mathematics to draft patterns. I love to paint; mostly acrylic, watercolor, and digital. I like to work with my hands, building furniture or restoring antiques, then mixing them together to design welcoming spaces. I also love to write, it is like painting with words.
Studio Playlist Favorites
I view each piece I create as an expression of the world it is from, different mediums that add to the whole. A painting, a garment, a book, can all belong to the same world. It is an empire built one creation at a time.
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Jen Reichle is a multi-passionate writer, illustrator, and artist, on an expedition of creative exploration. She enjoys inspiring others by curiously crafting a creative life through her eclectic projects and adventures. Her studio is currently located in Washington State.
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