Hi! I'm Jen!
Hey, how are you! I'm Jen Carmiel, a watercolor artist based in South Carolina. I've been an artist all my life. I started selling my work on the side as a hobby back in 2016, graduated art school in 2020, had big dreams for the future, and then... Stopped. For a bit.
Have you ever intuitively known for sure what your purpose is, but somehow get knocked off course? Well, that was me.
For two years I wore the business-professional attire, and marched around like a "boss lady" as the top manager in a corporate job. Silly to think now, as I've worked day in, day out to deprogram the "rule follower" in me.
I realized one day that a creative life was more important to me than anything else.
It was the scariest thing I've ever done- but in February 2024, I quit my four year career in property management to be an artist. I took 30 days to just ask myself: who am I? What do I want out of life?
And I found the answer in painting.
Today I'm fortunate enough to live a happy life with my fiance, Joseph, and our three cats, creating whimsical watercolor paintings that romanticize our daily life.
Trust the Process
I studied every kind of art while in art school at the University of South Florida- oil painting, acrylic, metal working, wood working, photography, videography, animation- You name it.
Except... Watercolor.
After I graduated, and I heard the echoes of "you should paint this way" from critiques, I found solace in watercolor.
It was the one medium where no one ever told me how to paint... So of course it's the natural home for my Small Joys.
I still love oils and acrylics, and occasionally take up the brush. But watercolors will always hold a certain freedom I can't find anywhere else. That's why I love my watercolors.
My First Small Joy
I know what it feels like to lose joy for life. For two years, I stopped painting entirely, worked a dead-end, draining corporate job, and lived on autopilot. It's weird because I didn't realize that's what it was back then-- loss of joy. All I knew was I was useful to others. I thought that was a good thing.
Everyday I belonged to others... Except for Saturday mornings.
Saturday mornings were mine. During the week I would drag my feet, nod yes to most everyone, and think to myself: at least I have my cup of coffee on Saturday.
And then for one hour I had control again.
That cup of coffee was my first Small Joy. I sat with a romance novel, surrounded by local art, and people living busy lives walking in and out the front door. I thought to myself: I wish I could live in this coffee shop forever.
Since then, I've completely restructured my life and taken back the reins. But dang, do I know what it feels like to be out of control like that, and when I started painting again, I told myself never again. I needed a reminder, every single day, to know that joy is still all around us.
Want to Take a Gander?
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All Greeting Cards
A Set of 8 Cards to Use Again and Again. ♡
