“The only real valuable thing is intuition.” Albert Einstein

One of my favorite quotes and the perfect way to introduce Wingmaker artist, Jennifer Halls.

I’ve met Jennifer twice; the visit to Wingmaker in May was the second time. The first time may have been at Wingmaker too, but I don’t remember. What I do remember is an instant liking, and not because she’s also from Ohio and has wild curly hair like me!

Jennifer lives Einstein’s quote. She has a connection to her creative self that permeates everything she says and does. No wonder she lists the quote on her website. She has an aura of grace and peace that is calming and welcoming.

Jennifer moved in when Martha moved out. Her studio has a sacred, ethereal feel with her multiple mandala renderings and the beautiful carved screen that defines her space. Here is her story, including the questions I asked the artists. Parts in parenthesis are added from my time at the studio.

Jennifer Halls

KBH: What drew you to set up a studio in Wingmaker?

JH: It was the need to touch into the roots of my own intuition which is drawing, painting and mixed media art. Right now I need to feel my own knowing from a different perspective and for me creativity is the core of personal understanding. Hopefully a by-product of this exploration will be my work – which is helping people communicate with their intuition – will benefit and expand as well.

(KBH: Can you tell us a little about your work?

JH: I work with people helping them discover when/how their intuition is communicating with them. Everyone’s is different. I use my intuition to help them figure out how to work with theirs. Creative expression is a direct portal to communicating with our intuition. We may not understand immediately but it is informing us and subtly transforming us. It’s hard sometimes to give ourselves permission to be creative. I knew I was an artist but wouldn’t make a regular time commitment for it. At Wingmaker I now set aside all day Monday to be in the studio. I had to rearrange some of my client appointments to do this, but I finally recognized how important and renewing that time is for me. Creativity is the intuitive. The product is the by-product; being present in the process is the most important.)

KBH: Is Wingmaker the first collaborative/community you’ve been involved with? How is it different from others?

JH: Yes, Wingmaker is my first arts collaborative I’ve been involved with. However, in college I had an art studio in a big room with other student artists and, like Wingmaker, it was private yet felt full of so much creativity even when no one else was there. During a writing exercise in a life-changing workshop taught by Karon and Rebecca using The Artist’s Way and their genius assignments, I discovered I was yearning for a place like that to work again. When I was offered a space at Wingmaker my heart sighed with joy and fear. The fact it was exactly 9 months from the exercise is not lost on me.

KBH: In what ways has working in collective studios affected your art?

JH: It has given me the physical and creative space to explore again. We all encourage each other to explore in any way that strikes our fancy. It seems everyone there values being in the process much more than creating a product. If a book, poem, painting or some other product comes from the process it’s great but not the emphasis.

KBH: What media are you working on now?

JH: More painting and drawing right now. I like the history and texture of things. I always have art supplies with me wherever I go, even if it’s just a white pencil and black paper.

Some of Jennifer’s beautiful mandalas

KBH: In what ways has working with artists working in different media affected your art?

JH: It has allowed me to explore writing with more confidence, even though I have a book published, I have never considered myself a writer. To be honest, it is very difficult for me to express what I feel through writing, even to answer these questions.

Kim’s note~Jennifer, you did a great job answering these questions-thank you! Visit Jennifer and read more about her work and all the interesting classes she leads  at www.Youknow.net