This week's featured artist is Jefferson City Art Club member and artist Jennifer Slouha, who, among other things, designs and produces nationally acclaimed magazine covers in colored pencil.
Slouha is a self-taught artist living in Holts Summit. After high school, she went on to work and raise a family but found time to occasionally create artwork. At 30 years old, she realized there was a market for her artwork.
"I started creating artwork on river rocks and established my first LLC business, selling my river rock art at local venues in Tucson, Arizona. I would go to one of the local landscape companies to purchase my rocks that I would use for painting and I always took my son, who was about 7 years old at that time," she said. "I homeschooled him so this was an opportunity for him learn more about classifying different types of rocks and minerals. I would let him fill his own small bucket of rocks while I picked out mine. When we got home I would wash the rocks in preparation to paint and he would begin researching what he found."
Slouha's husband also enjoyed helping him identify the rocks and this led into both of them collecting rocks and minerals from rock shops and the annual rock and mineral show. Her husband's rock and mineral collection led into the creation of SS Lapidary, which is the name he uses for his hobby of creating jewelry from the rocks and minerals he collects.
"Eventually I started taking commissions that included pet portraits on river rocks and vehicle drawings on paper. I also sold my artwork in a couple of galleries in Arizona," Slouha said.
The family decided to move back to the Midwest after dealing with a devastating house fire. Slouha took a few years off from creating anything artistic and focused on other things. She later was able to start creating artwork again.
"I started a new business, Jennifer Slouha Fine Art LLC. With a new business, I wanted to do something different so I looked into specializing in a different medium," she said. The second half of Slouha's story will be in next week's On Display column.
Jefferson City Art Club and Capital Arts
The club meets every third Monday September through May. The next meeting is 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at 409 Ellis Blvd. in the community room. For more information about club activities, visit jeffersoncityartclub-missouri.com.
The Jefferson City Art Club's next featured artist from Monday through Jan. 7 is artist Diana Fowler. She has a rustic old homestead style featuring horses, farm scenes, nature and lovely seasonal pieces done in oil. The "Give The Gift of Art" exhibition is open through Dec. 30 at Capital Arts gallery, 1203 Missouri Blvd. Capital Arts Executive Director Leann Porrello invites the community to find affordable pieces of artwork, which make perfect gifts this holiday season. For more information, call 573-635-8355.
Other Mid-Missouri art happenings
Santa's Workshops at The Village Art Studio have begun, with sessions planned 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 at The Village Art Studio, 1502 E. High St., suites 40 and 60. These three-hour workshops invite children ages 6 and older to create three art gifts perfect for the holidays. Cost is $35, which includes supplies. To enroll or for more information, call Ann DeRosier at 573-230-1414 or visit thevillageartstudio.com or their Facebook page.
The Art Bazaar, 1502 E. High St., will host a Christmas Open House 9 a.m.-4 p.m., which will feature prizes and holiday specials.
Debbie and Sarah Smith of The Silver Smith's Sisters in Tipton specialize in making personalized jewelry. Debbie also designs, redesigns and repurposes handmade clothing. They will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Dec. 22 at their business located at 11272 Missouri 50 in Tipton. For more information, call 660-473-1750.
Professional artist Jimmy Mustion does club promotions and publicity for Jefferson City Art Club and Capital Arts.