Artist's Statement

I am Jennie Bagwell, a lifelong painter whose work celebrates the interplay of light, emotion, and the stories we carry within us. For more than four decades, I have explored the canvas as a space for intuition and connection—blending the precision of traditional techniques with the freedom of impressionistic and intuitive mark-making. My paintings invite viewers to pause, to feel the pulse of a moment captured from life, memory, or the quiet details of the everyday.

My foundation was laid at California State University, Hayward (now East Bay), where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with honors in 1980. There, I honed my skills in oils, acrylics, and mixed media, later studying with the legendary pop artist Mel Ramos and the visionary child prodigy Ray Saunders. These mentors opened doors to a practice that honors both bold color and subtle narrative—whether rendering luminous portraits from cherished photographs, evocative landscapes, or wildlife scenes alive with movement and spirit, like my recent sea turtle studies.

Rooted in the Pacific Northwest for much of my life, I began my career teaching art literacy as Artist in Residence at Palisades Elementary School in California (2002–2006),. My work has been exhibited in galleries and corporate spaces across California and Oregon, including the Olive Hyde Art Gallery, Compaq and Sequence offices, and the Festival of the Arts in Lake Oswego. It graces private collections from Maui to San Francisco, and I continue to give back through donations to causes like the Willamette Falls Hospital Children’s Center Auction.

Now, at 62, with my studio recently relocated to the coastal beauty of St. Mary’s, Georgia, my art feels more alive than ever. As a wife of over 40 years, mother of two, avid tennis player, and active JDRF fundraiser, I infuse my pieces with the warmth of family, the resilience of community, and the joy of discovery. For me, painting is an act of generosity—an offering of presence and possibility. I hope my work sparks that same spark in you.