Meet Jennifer Brennnan | Paper Mâché Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Brennnan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, why did you pursue a creative career?
Well, I hadn’t actually set out to pursue an artistic career. I have never gone to art school, and I have no formal training. I always just seemed to have a natural gift for creativity. I will never forget my grade school art teacher, Mr. Lomangino. He helped foster a great confidence in me with my art that really stuck with me. I was a very shy and introverted child, who didn’t receive the encouragement with my art at home that I wished I had. . I was fortunate enough though, to have a horse in my life growing up. My horse helped me gain confidence in myself that I really needed. I have always had a truly special connection with horses… I just couldn’t imagine not having horses in my life.. Just being around them feeds ones soul.. They are truly special creatures.. ….
I received a call one day out of the blue approximately six years ago from someone, letting me know that there were two horses that were in desperate need of a home, and that I was their last hope. It was right before winter,, so I had to figure out quickly what to try to do to make sure I could afford to keep them well fed and cared for.. This is when I began to really tap back into my artistic side that I had let go for so long. I thought perhaps if I started creating art that I loved, perhaps other people may be interested in it too. , . So,I started out making some very simple sculptures and offering them to the public. I always loved paper mache, and thought it was such a fun and versatile medium to work with. Once I discovered paper mache clay,, and started working with it,, I was hooked! As I started to develop and improve upon my tequnique, I began to see more and more of an interest in my work. Today I’m making my papier mache art almost full time. I truly love creating my art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets me apart from others mostly, Is my unique style and medium. I work in all types and forms of paper mâché; however, I am best known for my one-of-a-kind papier mâché clay sculptures. I make my own unique blend of a paper clay in small batches at home with a mixer. I do not use molds, I create forms from mostly repurposed materials that would otherwise be thrown away, including plastic shopping bags and discarded wrapping paper. I love using materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill somewhere. That is one of the things I love most about papier Mache. You can repurpose so many things and turn them into a papier mâché work of art. That is exciting to me! I think this is more a less a more looked down on art form in this country. Many people don’t realize that this is a medium that is so versatile and incredibly durable when sealed and protected. Papier mâché clay is, in my opinion the best type of clay out there. My clay is incredibly smooth and can give fine details in the finished work. As a self-taught artist and mom of a young son, it has been a challenge perusing this and getting to where I am now. I have had people in the beginning that didn’t believe in me, but those few that did, encouraged me to keep going. I have met some amazingly talented world class artists who have been nothing but. encouraging. One artist in particular I am now friends with came into my life not long ago is Camilla Henneman. I met Camilla when I posted a paper mâché bigfoot head I had made on a social media art site. She commented under my post that she was one of the original creators of Harry, from Harry and The Hendersons. I almost fell out of my chair!! I couldn’t believe it! Not only have I always been a bigfoot enthusiast, but that is my favorite movie of all time!! It just gets better from here! Not only has she worked on some of the biggest movies in the Hollywood industry, but she is also a horse lover and has her own history of horse rescue. It turns out, not only that, but she is a champion for causes to help others who are suffering and in need. I was so absolutely star struck when I met her it took me a while to compose myself, so I didn’t sound like a fool when I was chatting with her. Lol. It turns out she is one of the most wonderful, kind and compassionate. down to earth people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She has helped me tremendously in sharing my art and she is one of my collectors as well. Getting to where I am today has taken grit, determination, long hours and lots of frustration sometimes. I am always trying to one up myself each time I make a new piece of art, and I make a lot of art! I have learned not to listen to anyone’s negative feedback. One negative comment can really stick with you and set you back, but just block it out!!! Believe in yourself and follow your gut. Follow your passion. Follow your dreams, even if they are big and scary. If your dream doesn’t scare you, it’s not big enough! Reach for the stars, because we are all stars, not just a select few. Do what brings joy to your soul, and if you are doing it for a cause greater than yourself that is where the magic is! I want the world to know I was here for a purpose greater than myself. My purpose has been to help the horses, but through them, and because of them, I have met so many wonderful people. I didn’t realize that through my art, because of these horses who came into my life that I would be helping bring joy and smiles to so many people through my art. I would encourage anyone reading this to know that anything is possible, and to trust in yourself. Go forward with courage and love, and always do the right thing, even if everyone around you does not. There is a purpose to your life, and that is to find your gift. No matter how old you are, take that gift and use it, at least in part to give back to leave this world just a little better than you found it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would probably have to take them to Knoebels amusement park and get them to go on some rollercoasters with me first and get that out of our systems! LOL! If it were a week-long trip, we would have to take a day to go to Hershey Park and enjoy all the fun, there. We would also have to take a day to go horseback riding on the rails to trails which is thirty something miles of trails that are open to the public. These are now trails where the railroad used to run up here in Northeast PA. We would have to attend an event at the Old Mill Village Museum. This is truly a local treasure of a place that I just adore. Preferably we would do all this around the fall time when they have their historic ghost walks., We of course would have to attend one of my festivals when I bring my eight-foot-tall papier mâché bigfoot and offer selfies with sasquatch photos! Last but not least we would have to eat out at some local restaurants and take a trip to the Kitson Art Gallery in Tunkhannock PA where I have some of my work on display, and available to the public.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shoutout, first to my son Tristen, who is my biggest fan, the light of my life, and such an amazing thelp with everything.. A big shoutout to my man Jeff,who built my horses a beautiful barn and has helped me so much in supporting me with everything. A big shoutout to my neighbor, and friend Margie for all she’s done to help me with the horses, and helping me out with my son when I couldn’ttake him to my art events. . I want to thank my grade school art teacher, Mr. Lomangino for being such an amazing teacher. Shoutout to my sister Kathleen for letting me put my first sculptures in her shop. A big shoutout to Bob and Karen who have always been so supportive, and have always been like family to me. A big shoutout to Cam for all of the unbelievable support and connection. To Patrick for taking a chance on me,as a new gallery artist . Thank you to all my friends, collectors, and to anyone who’s ever just walked by and smiled at my work.. There truly are so many wonderful people I want to thank, but that could fill up an entire book. Last but not least, I want to thank my beautiful rescue horses that came into my life. Without them, perhaps I would never have tapped into my full potential as an artist. They truly are very special creatures.

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