Meet Jenna Evans

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

Hi Jenna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Jenna Evans (they/them) and I am the artist and CEO of Color Fluent Art. I am currently residing in Sanford, North Carolina. I was originally born in Texas, but I have lived in North Carolina since I was three years old. In 2013 I went to study at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In 2015 I was accepted into their art program to get my Bachelor of Fine Arts. While I was very successful in my first and second year into the program, I dropped out with a little over one year left of the program due to my mental health.

After I left, I felt very lost creatively for two to three years until I found acrylic pour art. A friend I had at the time introduced me to this style one day when we were hanging out at her apartment and honestly, the rest is history. This style has slowly helped me to find myself again. I chose to create this business because I couldn’t escape the fact that art is my passion. I’ve loved it since I was very young and it has stuck with me despite hardships and challenges. Art has gotten me through the best and the worst of times in my life. I find acrylic pouring to be very therapeutic for me and because of that, Color Fluent Art was born in 2020. My ultimate goal is to create joy through my one-of-a-kind art and share my love of color with everyone. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall, I would say my obstacles and challenges are my mental health. In 2017 I was diagnosed with ADD and anxiety. In 2021 I was diagnosed with C-PTSD/PTSD, despite having these symptoms for a while. Therapy and making art has been very crucial for my healing and survival. As an artist or creative, it is important to be able to put yourself out there in the world, to be vulnerable, and connect with others. I admit to struggling with this because for me it can feel very unsafe at times and draining. For me, it can also be hard to stick to a schedule sometimes because I feel exhausted, anxious, overwhelmed, or unfocused. I am very thankful for my very supportive parents. This year I’ve been putting a lot of time, energy, and work into helping myself so I can be more successful in the future. I am and will always be a work in progress.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Currently, my style of art is acrylic pour painting. What I love about this style is there aren’t many mistakes you can make in pour art. Each piece I make is one of a kind and it’s almost impossible to identically recreate a piece. There are so many methods I am free to experiment with in pour art. I truly love how you never know what you’ll end up with and how therapeutic this art style is. I get so much enjoyment and peace out of making acrylic pour art. 

I used to stress over my art in college to an unhealthy level. I was very very talented but the stress, nights of no sleep, overwhelming due dates, and the workload became too much for me. That’s why I do this kind of art now. This art style is forgiving, freeing, and allows me to feel, to let go, and to release. After I dropped out of college with one year left, it took me two or three years to channel my creativity again. I went two or three years without being able to create until I did acrylic pour art. Over time, this art style has taught me to go with the flow more than to be a total perfectionist which is what I struggled with in the art program. 

When I look at my art, I think of galaxies, nature, potions, portals, marbling of rocks, and so many different things I love. I consider them to be dreamscapes. I think of how amazing it would be if the sky looked like one of my paintings or if I could experience my painting in one of my dreams, just floating in vibrant colors. Deep down I believe I am healing my inner child by doing this work. 

For the most part, I like to name my pieces after poetic words that express emotions, colors, or even name them after what they remind me of when I look at them. For most pieces, I include a meaning card when it is purchased because I like to create an experience. 

At the moment I create acrylic paint pours on canvas, wood, terra cotta, and plastic surfaces. The products I currently have for sale are paintings on canvas in different shapes, wooden coasters, wooden trays, wooden plaques, wooden hearts, wooden boxes, wooden ornaments, plastic ornaments, decorative pots, canvas magnets, and bookmarks. I also do custom work but only in my current style of art. For those interested in a custom order, please fill out this google form https://forms.gle/XyMhn4R1KiKbUJV86 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I would say my two favorite books right now from 2021 are Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab, and Home Body by Rupi Kaur. 

My favorite personal apps would have to be Covet Fashion and Design Home because they challenge my creative spirit in my free time and keep me inspired. I also like to play solitaire to wind down sometimes. I appreciate the Motivation app widget on my phone which feeds me inspirational quotes on the daily. 

In regards to my favorite business apps, I would have to say Canva because it helps me with graphics so much. I also love to use ImageOptim to optimize my images for my site which is very important. 

Contact Info:

• Email: colorfluentart@gmail.com
• Website: colorfluentart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorfluentart/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/colorfluentart/
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/IdLFYdkNukb
• Other: https://linktr.ee/colorfluentart