"Desert Elements" 15" x 60" Acrylic on Canvas by Marilynn Jennings
 
Marilynn Jennings
 
The early years of my life were spent in Arizona. Still embedded in my memory is the vast landscape of the desert with its subdued colors, stillness and solitude. After graduating from college in the 70’s, I moved to the Sierra foothills and have since resided in Northern California.
 
I have been creating art for over 30 years, beginning as a weaver.  I found the rhythmic movement of the loom created a meditative  state similar to what I now experience while painting. My artistic interests range from weaving, basketry, and sculpture to jewelry, collage, and painting.
 
In the 90’s my attention shifted from my art as I pursued a professional career as a licensed psychotherapist. The use of dream work, myth, and symbolism in my therapy has shaped much of my art. The healing arts have been a continuous thread throughout my life. This interest has influenced my therapeutic practice and inspired me to create a public labyrinth in my community.
 
My use of color to evoke emotions is my signature; some bold and bright that awaken a feeling of passion and joy; others a soft blending of hues that elicit a calm meditative state. My creative process is like a dance: listening deep within, attuning, and moving to what arises in the moment. Throughout my life creativity has been more than making art; it is the essence of how I live my life.