Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Flack.
Hi Jenny, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I came by mural painting in an unusual way. I’ve always had a knack for visual art, which I got from my father; an artist and lover of art history. He instilled a love of art in me. We talked a lot about color and form, just in everyday conversation. But I’m also a Theatre kid. So, I spent my whole life helping paint sets and props. I was living my life doing theater, teaching, and doing art when I could. I was interested in murals, painted some for friends and family, and dreamed of maybe being a muralist someday. Then two very big things happened. In October 2019, my dad died from suicide. And, in early 2020 we got a global pandemic. I saw how much my father kept his art from the world, and I had a lot of time to think about how I wanted to approach mine. I was lucky to have the support and the privilege to make a shift. I started taking private commissions from people who were sitting at home, looking at ugly, barren walls that didn’t make them happy. I found that there was a real need for personalized beautification in people’s spaces and that I had the unique ability to help people tell their stories through imagery and color. I branched out to businesses when the world started coming back. Now I paint residential and commercial murals with a focus on telling stories through the beauty, color, and movement in natural things. And I paint in tribute to my dad.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Learning how to run my own business has been the biggest struggle and the bumpiest road. It’s a lot of on-the-job lesson learning. From pricing to lead retention to marketing, I’m having conversations that are new to me. But it’s very exciting to be pushing myself in this way and expanding my knowledge and understanding.
What I love about this job is that every new project is a challenge. Every single time I paint, I’m painting some element or some material or in some way that I never have before. I absolutely love that it’s different every time. Every client presents a puzzle, and I LOVE puzzles.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in bright colors and natural subject matter. It’s all about movement and color for me. Flowers and citrus are my favorites; but I’ve also had loads of fun painting octopuses, birds, bugs, you name it. And, like I said, I love a challenge. There is so much beauty in nature, and I feel so lucky to bring it to people’s otherwise drab, gray walls.
I think what sets me apart is my ability to listen and translate people’s stories into a personalized and one-of-a-kind piece of visual art. I’m not precious about my own ideas, and I don’t take it personally when a client isn’t into a draft. My main concern is more client satisfaction than fulfillment of my own artistic desires. That’s not to say I won’t stand up for what I think will work best. But I can always paint for myself, and funnily enough my artistic desires are very attached to giving people something they’ll love. I’m most proud of my ability to work with clients. Because, when I’m done, the art belongs to them… and it should feel that way.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Public art and murals are really having a moment right now. I’m very excited about the increase in people’s, schools, and cities’ interest in beautifying their spaces. I am so encouraged by the acknowledgment that experiencing art in your day just makes everything better. So, I guess my hope is that this will continue and grow in the coming years. It would be amazing if, more often than not, people have moments every day walking by a mural that makes them think or gives them a feeling. I want to be a part of that.
Contact Info:
- Website: Jennyflack.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennyflackmuralist
Image Credits
Carla Coffing Tandem Photo Harvey Del Rey
