Artist Statement:
I create art as a form of therapy for myself. I find that working with colour and composition brings me joy in the images that develop. I have gained confidence as my art evolves, finding a way to communicate by expressing feelings without words.
I am a mixed media artist, so I tend to incorporate any and all media in my art. My choices are intuitive; I select whatever materials feel right in the moment. I love to try new techniques and work with unusual colour palettes. I usually strive to create positive artwork that enhances wellbeing and happiness, but this year I feel the need to explore the darker feelings of lost opportunities and diminishing potential felt upon reaching middle age. I think it is necessary to confront these feelings to be able to accept the current reality and to be ready for the opportunities that are still ahead.
My current work is a therapeutic examination of the frustration and rage against traditional expectations of ‘’success” that should be reached by a female at midlife. I am challenging what is important in life, and whether the popular markers of success are the only set of benchmarks that we should be aiming towards to live a happy, healthy life with purpose.
Art by Jennifer Lee
THE PATH TO METAMORPHOSIS
Art became the bridge between who I was and who I am becoming. In the quiet of the studio, every brushstroke was a prayer for healing, turning midlife’s uncertainty into a vibrant canvas of rediscovery. This is a journey of shed skins and newfound light, where the act of creation mirrors the evolution of the soul.
Biography
Born in Orillia, Ontario, (Mariposa of Stephen Leacock’s Sunshine Sketches of our Little Town), Jennifer was adopted on a November day so warm that a little white butterfly (Mariposa is the Spanish word for butterfly) crossed her parents' path as they carried her down the stairs on their way to the car. This was not the first influence of butterflies in Jennifer’s life, nor would it be the last. Her mother was working on a crewelwork pattern of Monarch butterflies as she awaited the call that there was a baby ready to adopt into her family. This piece is now framed and hangs in pride of place in Jennifer’s home in Brockville, Ontario.
The butterfly has become Jennifer’s emblem with its relevant symbolism of new beginnings, transformation and hope. Jennifer incorporates butterflies into her artwork when she can and frequently explores the themes of new beginnings, transformation and hope. She even styles her signature with her initials combined into the form of a butterfly and has one tattooed on her wrist.
Jennifer came to art later in life after a career focused on science and technical details. She fell in love with painting after a Paint and Sip fundraiser attended with friends. Soon after she started following Cinnamon Cooney – The Art Sherpa – on YouTube. She found learning to paint to be therapeutic and transformative following some challenging life experiences. She developed her practice of art journalling through teachers like Tamara LaPorte and Effy Wild. Now as a Fine Arts student at St. Lawrence College, each new work is an experiment to see how she can grow and personalize the art she creates. Her goal is to move away from technical accuracy, and move towards a looseness of expression, impressionistic depictions and the suggestions of details.
Jennifer’s art related success began in kindergarten with 1st prize in the Fire Prevention Poster Contest awarded for her crayon drawing entitled “Don’t play with matches.” Skip forward to her Art College years when Jennifer’s wall mural design was chosen to be painted on one of St Lawrence College’s classroom walls. Her student works have been displayed in the College’s entry way display cabinets, as well as in the Student Commons. She is excited for this year's graduation exhibit in the Marianne Van Silfhout gallery on the Brockville campus of SLC.
Curriculum Vitae
Lives and Works Brockville, ON
Education
2026 Fine Arts Diploma in Visual Arts from St. Lawrence College. Brockville, ON.
2004 Bachelor of Arts with Minor in Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON.
1998 Bachelor of Science with Major in Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.
Professional Experience
2021-25 Moderator for The Art Sherpa YouTube channel
Awards, Grants & Fellowships
2026 Awarded the Marianne Van Silfhout Bursary, St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON.
2024 Selected Mural Design, St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON
2023 Awarded the Marianne Van Silfhout Bursary, St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON.
1980 1st Place, Fire Prevention Poster Contest, Mallorytown Elementary School, Mallorytown, ON.
Group Exhibitions
2026 The Final Four, Student Commons, St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON.
2025 , Student Commons, St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON.
2024 Blood, Sweat, and Tears, Student Commons, St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON.
2023 A Look at First Year, Entryway Display Cabinets, St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON.
Upcoming Exhibitions
2026 Group Exhibition: Unfolding Directions, Marianne Van Silfhout Gallery, St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON
Cultivating the Inner Landscape
Healthy living is the canvas upon which our most vibrant work is painted. These insights document the holistic practices that fuel my artistic rebirth.
Nourishing the Vision
Fueling the creative process begins with colorful, whole foods. When we nourish our bodies with vitality, our artistic output reflects that inner energy.
Morning Stillness
Establishing a grounding morning ritual of silence and gentle movement allows the mind to clear before the first stroke of paint touches the canvas.
The Art of Recovery
Creative output requires periods of intentional rest. Embracing downtime and deep rest is not a luxury, but a vital component of the artistic cycle.
Connect with the Art
Whether you're inquiring about a specific painting, a commission, or simply wish to share your journey of healing and self-reinvention, I would love to hear from you.