Thomas Jennerwein (b.1953) 

         Converted watercolorist to oil painter  5 yrs ago. Self taught. I currently paint still lifes due to the simplicity and usual ease of setup. I admire the way light reflects and bathes the surface of any given object. There is such a vast amount of subject matter that I doubt I'll ever get bored with this particular style of painting.  
Biography : Healthy, Happily married, 2 children and lots of grandkids
I thank the Lord for all the above and my creative gift of showing you glimpses of life that you may have missed.
I love to paint. Period.  I have no list of important accolades or memberships to present as my accomplishments. I enjoy what I do and have learned dog earring the numerous art books that line my book shelves, taking night classes with instructors I felt would give me the most bang for my buck and through trial and error. I can't list any art schools per se except that I took a couple of classes at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts with some top notch art instructors for 2 semesters but ended it due to the cost to pursue that education. My passion to paint has been a part of my life since I could pick up a pencil and have developed my own style though years of a constant need to do better. I painted watercolors for 18 yrs and had won a few ribbons and sold numerous images to people locally and around the globe. A very satisfying accomplishment! However, it was the green ribbons with dead presidents that have also kept the fire going!
 5 years ago I took an oil portrait class with Chris Zhang as my instructor--not an easy accomplishment by any means after painting land and seascapes in watercolor most of my artistic career. It was shortly after this class when I got hooked on painting in oils and its  been a new journey ever since. I continue to learn about painting portraits/figures as well as still lifes and have come along way from my first piece to the present but it opened a new door to the magic of oil paints. My goal is to paint what pleases me and if I sell 1 piece or 20 pieces then all the better for my ego but it really satisfies my drive to paint and enjoy the journey as I improve "My Voice" until the day I can't pick up my brush any more.
I have yet to take the leap of faith from my present job as an R.N. since the income from my art can't match the salary and medical benefits that I presently enjoy. Perhaps as I close in on my retirement years I can ponder how to transition my needs and what I can live on as an artist. I can only hope to win the lottery!