IN FRONT OF THE CANVAS

Jennifer Ballinger is an American Contemporary/Urban Artist born in the early seventies inside her parents home in Downtown Little Rock, AR. She was born into and raised within an isolationist apocalyptic fear-based Christian sect (WWCG headquartered in Pasadena, CA) which secluded her from 'worldly' traditional religious holidays, birthdays, rituals and gatherings. Her half a century life story thus far is truly unique and has served to shape her worldview, and also the way she perceives beauty and art. She was exposed to diverse people and backgrounds spending her first two decades in her beloved lower middle class neighborhood located across the street from Paper Moon and behind The Ritz Motel in the heart of inner city Little Rock on Asher Ave and West 34th. IYKYK!!  She graduated high school from the Historic National Site, Little Rock Central High, where she also sold her first canvas painting to her senior high art teacher.  Rather than succumb to the dogma of the church sect and its dictates,  Jennifer was driven to explore and move beyond the imposed strict boundaries of the small world of her church faction.  Her courage and early life experience laid the foundation for the creativity she was born with and bound to share. 

She moved to Baton Rouge, LA in 1993 where she fell for and thrived in this new loving culture of South Louisiana.  After 5 years in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, she high tailed it to Seattle, WA where she was introduced to a radical change in scenery, culture and weather.  She lived the high life for two years enjoying all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.  After experiencing terrible SAD (seasonal affective disorder) symptoms (common for us sunshine lovers) she decided to make her way back to her adored Southern roots at the beginning of the new millennia.

Her mentor in the world of art is her late father, Jerry Ballinger.  As a child she was amazed by his ability to illustrate anything on a whim, with extraordinary skill and technique.  Without any college or formal training, Jerry achieved a successful career illustrating fashion for one of the nation's top luxury department stores.  This was in the golden age of fashion advertising illustrations, before photo modeling became predominant.  Jennifer cherishes many of his works to this day, and keeps them nearby for daily inspiration.  He taught her to never take yourself too seriously and always stay humble. 

Like her father before her, Jennifer may not have a prestigious art degree to offer, but what she does have is an undeniable passion and intense desire to create and share her vision of life and beauty. 

Many people say the eyes are windows to a person's soul. 

With Jennifer, it may be said that her artwork is a window; not only to her soul, but also to that vision of beauty. 

You can find Jennifer these days in her Little Rock studio painting or creating scads of various art, cooking up something super fattening for her love Andrew Leslie (and anyone else that'll eat it), getting bossed around by her spoiled rotten King Charles Spaniel ‘Major Louie’ or outside on any patio drinking a cold beer. 

“just eat a moon pie and call it a night.” - Jennifer A. Ballinger