Jenny Read Stout
mixed media
About the Artist
Jenny Read Stout grew up in a military neighborhood in San Diego. Friends and neighbors came from all corners of the world, sharing stories of overseas deployments over their homecooked favorite foods and copious amounts of laughter. “Pay day” pizza parties happened as regularly as running barefoot and sending pier-side goodbyes. Frugality often necessitated creativity, however, the richness of these childhood experiences led Jenny to lifelong curiosity of the world and a passion for travel.After graduating from college, Jenny lived in Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. where she worked as a museum educator. During that time, she was exposed daily to inspiring collections of art, as well as some of the most fascinating stories of the past. She also continued her studies in art, taking classes in photography, colored pencil, and watercolor (just to name a few). Following the birth of her children, Jenny returned to the west coast and decided to make art full-time.
Jenny studied Painting and Printmaking at San Diego State University, earned an MAT in Museum Education from The George Washington University, and holds a certificate in Children’s Book Illustration from the University of California, San Diego. She is a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and Oregon Society of Artists. She has also been featured on DoodleWash.com and participated in the Urban Sketchers Symposium 2019 in Amsterdam, NL.
Jenny lives on a small homestead in West Linn, Oregon with her family.
Artist Statement
Since I was a child, I’ve had vivid dreams. The recollection of which sometimes blur the line between memory and subconscious, leaving me to carefully ponder their hidden meanings. My mixed media is attempt to capture the feeling of that dream world. Some images are overt, most obscured, leaving the view not quite able to dissect the individual parts. Yet, as a whole it comes together as something recognizable.
My style is heavily inspired by classic botanical illustration, however, I also draw upon my travels, experiences, certain people or periods of time as the inspiration for my work. I have a curiosity with the cryptic meanings of hidden objects and symbols, and have a particular fascination the varying meanings behind plants.
Instagram: @jarstout