Jenn Todd Lavanish

About the Artist

Being relatively new to Howard County MD, I have spent the last 30  years in 15 different locations, following my husband's career.  Art making has always been my touchstone since childhood, my happy soul and safe place, as well as my own creative journey.   "MCI" = "Many Changes Instantly" happens to be our family motto. My first career is as Wife and Stay-at-home- Mother of 3: daughter and twin boys.  I am a Legally Blind Visual Artist with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Clemson University in 1992 with a major in painting and a minor in drawing and ceramics.  I enjoy process oriented artwork; I always say it is about” the process over the product".  I am primarily an acrylic and watercolor painter, but I also enjoy a multitude of drawing medias, collage, Monoprints, and mixed media assembly.  Recently I have been exploring the joy of miniature art, and have been working on a series to explore the textures and bright colors. I love creating small personal portable art mementos.  I have taught a wide variety or art classes from preschool children to adults from structured classes, to craft summer programs, to private art lessons, to workshops and art experiences.  I love to share art and art conversations.  Art journeys and narratives always fascinate me.  Thank you for visiting. 

Artist's Statement

I am a process oriented abstract and representational visual  artist deeply rooted as an acrylic painter and mixed media creator. I have been legally blind my entire life, so I have a unique perspective and vision for my myopic imagery and textural quality in my work. I feel art is a journey of self discovery and achievement, even an amazing therapeutic tool. Art is an analog way of connecting within yourself and with others. Both creating works and admiring works engage many responses, I consider a creation successful if it evokes a connection, especially as an emotional or spiritual response, be the response good or bad. With my work I encourage others to engage, to not only look upon my colors and images, but to actually touch and feel and connect kinetically. I make art to fill a need in my heart, and often give my works away. Because I truly believe art should be set out free into the world, paying forward as a creation then takes on a life and narrative of its own beyond the inception of origination and creation ideals.