In 2005, when I first started selling my paintings on the internet I was homeless with my two golden retrievers living in my van (painting in vacant lots, out in the desert, anywhere I could find room to work, basically) and selling my work at art and craft shows all over the country.

Here's a shot of my art fair booth entry slide from back in the day.

Sometimes it really was a lot of fun but it did get old after about two years so one day while jacking some free wi-fi off a coffee shop in Fort Myers I thought I'd list a few paintings on eBay just to see what would happen.

I mean, how much worse could things get at this point? I barely made enough to buy ramen noodles after paying those insane show entry fees and buying the dogs their gourmet Gains Burgers and bottled water (nothing but the best for Lucy & Henry).

So, the first painting that I listed on eBay went into a bidding war and ended up selling for $350. I was hooked. I've been listing paintings ever since. Within a couple of months I'd actually made enough to get my own apartment and get off the streets.

We usually slept in the parking lot of whatever Walmart we were closest to and the security guards always looked out for us so we were basically safe. But thanks to all ya'll we now have a roof over our heads. [More...]

Here's a detail shot of one of the early eBay paintings 'Ruthful Leader'. No lie: this one was painted in a Denny's parking lot in Colorado Springs.

:: The Process | How I work ::

I get asked a lot 'how do you work?'

Any way I can would be the most honest answer but they always give me that blank look like they were really hoping for more... I work a lot... I work constantly.

I often get up in the middle of the night with an idea make a big mess and then sleep half the day. I once worked 40 straight hours with no sleep.

And I can now say from experience that yes, it is possible to hallucinate without drugs.

[More...]

© 2008 'Ghost Town' "Thanks Trina for 'getting' this one! You really gave me strength to keep painting!" — Read the story behind this painting...

:: Inspiration | Influences ::

Music has an enormous impact on my work. It's on in the studio all day [Listen to what's playing in the studio now...]

Urban imagery also finds it's way into my work. I feel very strongly about the importance of graffiti as a modern art form. I've written an article about street art and it's place in modern culture- Grafitti: Crime of Passion. [Read it here...]

Some of my favorite artists (of all kinds) and how they've influenced my work: [Here].

©2008 'Sacrifice' Jennifer Berry

BIO | CV | Artist Statement

• My earliest memories are of drawing, usually people, faces and figures were always my favorite.

• I first received mainstream recognition for my art in high school student and was featured in American Artist.

• I was accepted to and attended E. Mich Univ with an art merit scholarship when I was only 15 (a high school sophomore) and I went on to receive my BFA, then Portfolio Center (a top-ranked creative ad/design school) for a couple more years...

• Then, 10 years as an art director for some very prestigious ad agencies and well-known clients.

• In 1997, I decided the corporate world really wasn't for me or more accurately the corporate world decided I wasn't for it... so I decided to pursue my art full time via art exhibitions, fairs and galleries then finally internet sales via eBay and some other online galleries.

• There were some very rough times in the beginning but it's worked out better than I could've ever imagined and I've never looked back. Now, my paintings can be found in collections and galleries around the world.

• In 2005, Neiman Marcus purchased seven of my large-scale abstract paintings for their corporate collection housed at their Dallas headquarters.

• In 2007, I had a painting in a featured home in Architectural Digest.

• In 2008, I signed an exclusivity agreement with a major gallery and now many of my paintings will now sell for several thousand a piece. Obviously I will no longer be able to offer this style of work on eBay.

• In 2009, My art was featured in the set design of both Olive Garden & Papa John's Pizza.

• I am currently living in Ludington, MI where I work out of my studio/ gallery in the summer time and in Jacksonville, FL where I travel around the state doing art shows in the winter.

Art is a release for me, I honestly don't know what I'd do if I couldn't paint. I paint every day and still try to finish three or more paintings a day. I'm very grateful that my paintings sell as fast as I can finish them, sometimes faster.

I'm also very thankful for another year as a successful artist because of all the support from the loyal art patrons who have made it possible.

Thank you sincerely for your support and interest in my work, it means more to me (and henry & lucy) than we can ever say!

— Jen

© 2008 Detail from 'City Poetry' — Read more about this painting...