Play with your food? Pretty sure you’ll want to after meeting Jenni of Jenni Price Illustration. I recently discovered Jenni’s blog and after picking my jaw up off the rug and wiping the drool off the keyboard, sent her an e-mail asking if I could feature her and her adorable food art in my new “series,” Creativity Captured. And was thrilled when she said yes!
See why?!!!!? (Hang on, there’s WAY more!)
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a wife and a stay-at-home mom and when my kids are in school, I love making them art pancakes for an after school snack. My college degree is in animation so with that as my art background, I especially enjoy creating colorful, whimsical characters for them. I usually try to have a Biblical theme each week and I really love being able to use my art pancakes as a way to teach my children about the Lord. What started out as something fun for them has become a super fun and creative outlet for me too.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I’m most inspired by artwork for animation, children’s books, anything colorful, and whimsical characters. I keep a sketchbook in/or nearby the kitchen so that I can draw ideas when they come to me. My creativity works best though when I’m actively doing something (such as cooking, folding laundry, talking to my kids…etc).
Describe a typical lunch or snack time at your house.
If my kids know that I made them art pancakes for snack, we generally race each other inside the house. They run because they’re excited to see them and I run because I don’t want to miss their reaction. Sometimes they play a little with them if they look like animals or something and my daughter (who loves art) occasionally draws a picture of her pancake.
Do you have picky eaters and if so, how do you introduce new foods to them?
My son is a very picky eater and pancakes are one of his favorite foods. When he was younger (before I started making art pancakes), I would hide fruit in his pancakes. I made them for him every day and one time I got carried away and put pineapple in them. Well, he realized it and was not happy about it! It took awhile for him to forget about that. So now I just started putting fruit in my art pancakes and we’ll see if he figures it out. I just won’t put pineapple in them!
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Speed for sure! If I was faster at everything, then I could get my chores done quickly, pick up the house immediately after the kids mess it up and have more time for fun things!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
When my grandma (who was a great watercolor artist) passed away, I was given her art books. Tucked inside one of them was a note in her handwriting which is very special to me. It says, “Don’t think in terms of being better than someone else, but think in terms of being the best that you can be.”
THANK YOU so much Jenni! I absolutely adore you and your art, love, love, love that you keep a sketchpad nearby, and the advice your grandma left is priceless. I think you truly have “creativity captured” and I want to be a mom like you!
Find more of Jenni on her blog or Etsy store.
Jenni’s work is adorable and amazing! We are big fans! My kids love to go online and see her creations every Monday for Muffin Tin Monday.
Thank you so much Pam! I love the feature and all the nice things you said brightened my day!
Blessings!
Jenni
This is amazing! How fun Saturday breakfast must be if you can do things like this! The most I’ve done is those Mickey Mouse pancakes with chocolate chips. They usually end up looking like elephant Jack-o-lanterns.