Artists Work

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing or painting. As a small child, I was determined to draw things that looked “real,” and I worked hard to make that happen. Drawing didn’t come easily to me — the many crumpled papers and scraped-off canvases can attest to that. I would get very frustrated when my work wasn’t perfect and could spot even the slightest error, sometimes as small as a quarter of an inch. This drive for perfection has been both a blessing and a challenge.

One regret I carry today is that I don’t have many of my early works to share with my students. I was often so hard on myself that I destroyed much of what I created. When I see a student struggling with the same perfectionism I once felt, I wish I could pull out those early drawings to show them how far I’ve come. I now encourage all my students to keep everything in a portfolio so they can see their own growth over time.

My pursuit of perfection has sharpened my eye for detail and strengthened my powers of observation. I’ve learned to draw what I truly see, not what I think is there. This ongoing journey to become the best artist I can be has been incredibly rewarding, and I love sharing what I’ve learned with my students.

Below are a few examples of my drawings. I’ll continue to add more as I create new work, so please check back often. I hope you enjoy viewing my portfolio as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Thanks,

Melissa Jensen