Check Out Jenna Weber’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Weber.

Hi Jenna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my photography journey in high school. I would shoot sporting and school events for my high school yearbook club and then use those photos to create yearbook pages. I went to college for graphic design, but I realized I didn’t really want any corporate job creating art for others using brand guides. Don’t get me wrong. I learned a lot about the adobe suite, which is highly beneficial. I also gained the ability to create logos and graphic images, but I realized it wasn’t for me. So, I switched full-time to creating art for myself and others who believed in my vision about one year ago.

On the other hand, I started my painting journey when I was little and would paint on my kitchen floor! Then, I moved to more advanced things like the inside of my closet (15 years later, and I still haven’t repainted it!). All jokes aside, my painting career started in 10th grade. I started painting logos for local businesses like N2Athletex, a gym in Roanoke, Virginia. Then, I painted 15 school mascot logos on the wall of that same gym to represent the owner’s involvement in the local communities. Those paintings led to other gyms wanting logos on their walls, so I just became known for these massive murals around Roanoke.

My love of oil painting started during my last year of high school. I had been painting before that and doing other mediums like pottery, but my love truly began my senior year. Mr. Maynard, my art teacher, encouraged me to do a waterfall painting, and that’s when I learned about color theory, color temperature, and painting techniques. Since then, I have continued my oil paintings for commission and personal pieces upon request.

Me, I don’t have a specific style of art. Sometimes I feel like that is the equivalent of treason in the art community, but I think it allows me to explore my options as an artist before refining the medium for a piece. At the time that I am writing this, I have one more year of college, so that a lot can change over the next year. That being said, I plan on pursuing photography full-time as a career out of school. However, my love is so wide that I will not stop painting or creating. I would love to do more future murals for businesses and corporations.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My biggest challenge has been being an art student during a pandemic. It has been a pretty smooth road, but I have had a few struggles. All three years of my college experience have been sprinkled with uncertainty, sickness, and, honestly, a lot of doubt. It is easy to doubt yourself when you are an artist, but it’s even easier to doubt your capabilities when you are in the middle of worldwide uncertainty.

I am so grateful that my biggest struggles have just been that, and I know I am not alone in these feelings. I have learned to thrive in chaos, but I am also learning that slowing down is not always bad. It is key to take the moments I have in quiet as moments to rest, even if they only come in seconds. As I have said previously, I am still in college, so time is one of those things I never quite have enough of, but that’s not an excuse. These struggles have shown me that I have to fight strongly for what I want and who I aspire to be. I will always have time for my priority, and art is just that for me. I will create art at whatever cost that may be – even if that is working full time to create art while going to school full time.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What a big question! I specialize in photography, oil painting, and murals, but I can further break that down. My photography so far is a lot of untraditional self-portraits, landscapes, and, actually, editorial photography. I have dabbled in traditional weddings, but I would love to do more elopement-style weddings in the future. My favorite photoshoot that I have done thus far is an egg self-portrait. Everyone that sees it is immediately grossed out, and that is just the reaction that I want. The inspiration for the shoot was the traditional still-life vanitas. Vanitas is “the Latin word meaning “vanity” and corresponds to the meaninglessness of earthly life,” according to my professor, Young Kim. My shoot symbolized the fragility of all of us and our ability to cause permanent destruction with a simple act like clenching our fists. The process is equally as important as the product because I was the photographer and the model, so at the end, my camera was covered in eggs, and the entire studio smelled like rotten eggs. Being willing to do the gross and the elegantly styled shoots sets me apart from other photographers. I am not scared of going to any extreme to get the shot I am looking for. On another note, my oil paintings are mostly landscape or abstract. The client predesigns my murals unless we agree on something else.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My mom, brother, fiancé and entire family. Adrian Rangel, owner of N2Athletex; Mr. Maynard, my high school art teacher; Young Kim, my photography professor at Elon University; and Michael Fels, my advisor, mentor and painting professor at Elon University.

Pricing:

• Mini Sessions: 30 minute session for one individual. Guaranteed 15 photos. $100
• Graduation: 1.5 hour session. Guaranteed 60 photos. Payment plans available. $300
• Couples: 1-2 hour session. Guaranteed 40 photos per hour. $200 / hr
• Wedding & Elopement: Contact for details. I would love to hear about your big day and create a package specifically for you! Payment plans available. Starting at $2000
• Editorial: 1-2 hour session. Guaranteed 40 photos per hour. Payment plans available. $200 / hr (optional: additional price for props and/or flowers)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://webtheartist.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/web.theartist/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@web.theartist

Image Credits

Photo 1: concept: @michael_betznerphotography (IG) model: @hannah.foy (IG) makeup artist: @peachcowgirl (IG)

Photo 2: concept: @web.theartist (IG) model: @web.theartist (IG)

Photo 3: concept: @michael_betznerphotography (IG) model: @emmaxsmiith makeup artist: @peachcowgirl (IG)

Photo 4: concept: @web.theartist (IG) model: @web.theartist (IG)

Photo 5: concept: LAB gym in Roanoke, VA logo

Photo 6: concept: @web.theartist (IG)  model: @sophiameschshoots (IG)

Photo 7: concept: @michael_betznerphotography models: @chandlercouill and @perkinsonashlyn makeup artist: @peachcowgirl (IG)

Photo 8: concept: @michael_betznerphotography model: @marissa_landis (IG) makeup artist: @peachcowgirl (IG)

Photo 9: concept: @michael_betznerphotography models: @chandlercouill and @perkinsonashlyn makeup artist: @peachcowgirl (IG)

Photo 10: concept: @web.theartist (IG)  model: @sophiameschshoots (IG)