Meet Jena Reif

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jena Reif a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jena, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

From the time I was young, I knew I wanted to be an artist. Creating made me feel connected to myself, a relief during those tumultuous teenage years when I couldn’t quite define who I was or what I wanted to become. In college, I fully intended to pursue fine arts, but during orientation, I learned my chosen major had been cut from the program. With a recession on the horizon, I opted to switch to a general business degree. It led me to a steady, successful career in technology consulting, but a sense of fulfillment was missing.

When I got married, my husband and I agreed that when we started a family, I would stay home to raise our children. My hope was to be fully present with them while gradually building a creative business of my own. Once the chaos of having two girls under two settled, I began carving out time for creativity again, though I wasn’t sure where this passion would lead.

Then, everything changed. In July 2022, our four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia and our world came to a halt. We were thrown into a reality dominated by doctor visits, treatments, and an all-consuming uncertainty. During these difficult times, I found myself craving a canvas. Art became my emotional outlet, my therapy. I poured my emotions into painting—layers of color, shape, and texture reflecting the intensity of my fears, my grief, and my anger.

Throughout my life, I’d been known as the girl with “big emotions,” even jokingly elected “Moodiest Senior” in high school. For a long time, I saw this as something “wrong” with me, but facing my daughter’s illness changed everything. I realized that my ability to feel deeply wasn’t a flaw; it was a strength—a way to navigate life’s hardest moments. I wanted my art to capture this raw, painful experience of watching a child endure chemotherapy. I wanted others to see that it’s okay to feel deeply and to be unafraid of those big, complex emotions, especially in times of darkness.

My paintings have become a message to the world: it’s okay to feel angry, to grieve, to let life’s challenges wash over you. I believe that there’s power in vulnerability, and in sharing these emotions, we find connection and solidarity. As our daughter prepares to ring the bell signaling the end of her treatment, I feel a renewed purpose. Her diagnosis has sparked a fierce urgency within me. Life is precious and fleeting, too short to hold back for fear of judgment.

Through my art, I hope to encourage others to live boldly and unapologetically, to embrace their emotions, and to know they’re not alone. My paintings are meant to feel like a warm embrace, a silent message saying, “I understand, and it’s okay.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am an intuitive painter who captures feelings, emotions, and experiences through mark making and abstract expression. My own reactions to real life moments guide movement and texture on canvas, creating self-reflection and expression in art form. Working primarily in acrylics on canvas, my goal is to not only move through my own thoughts, but to help others understand they are not alone in theirs.

I explore the relationship between colors, shapes, and emotion through layers of paint to build depth and interest. I also take inspiration from the beauty of nature to evoke feelings of joy and comfort.

So what’s next? I am currently in the process of applying to several summer art festivals and fairs, and getting ready for a smallworks exhibition at Roy G Biv gallery in Columbus, OH. If you are interested in my work, I am always updating my website (jenareif.com) with new paintings and print offerings as well as some smaller gifts as well.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The 3 things that have been the most impactful for me have been: Being consistent in practice, making connections/asking questions, be somewhat delusional.

Consistency in practice has been key for me. I’ve always been a creative person, but I truly discovered my style, preferences, and even more about myself by consistently doing the work. I paint or draw every day and carry basic materials with me wherever I go. During my daughter’s cancer treatment, I learned the importance of having a “go bag” ready at all times. Over time, the contents have evolved, but I always include a pencil, sketchbook, a collapsible cup, red, yellow, and blue paints, and a single paintbrush. This simple kit ensures I can always keep creating, no matter where I am.

Building connections has been a game-changer for me. When I started my business a few years ago, I was completely lost. I understood how to run a business and to create, but sharing my deeply personal work with the world felt overwhelming. Joining a local art league was a turning point. I began asking questions during meetings and reaching out to fellow artists for coffee chats. To my surprise, they were incredibly generous with their time and advice, answering my questions and guiding me toward the next steps. Those connections not only provided valuable insights but also gave me the confidence to put myself out there.

Being a little delusional was what gave me the courage to take that first leap into the art world. Throughout my life, I often heard that making a living as an artist was impossible. Those words planted seeds of shame, making me feel guilty for wanting something deemed “unrealistic.” But eventually, I came to a realization: there was no point in creating art in secret, and I couldn’t turn off the part of me that needed to create. So, what was I going to do with all this work if I never shared it? More importantly, what was the purpose of creating if no one ever saw it?

I realized It only takes one person to make a connection or even buy a piece. Deep down, I knew there had to be others out there who felt the same way I did, and I believed my work would resonate with someone. That belief pushed me forward and reminded me that art is about connection, not perfection.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Honestly, it was my therapist. I was hesitant about talk therapy for a long time, but after having my babies and struggling with postpartum depression, I knew something had to change. I went into my search for a therapist fully expecting to walk out and hate it, but I got lucky and instantly connected with her. I had seen therapists off and on throughout my life, but none were the right fit—until her.

She recommended group therapy, which she thought would be helpful, and through that, I’ve found some of my closest friends and my strongest support system.

The point is, you can always learn new skills—take classes, watch videos, whatever—but you can’t truly become yourself or discover your purpose if you’re not able to navigate your mental health first.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jenareif.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jena_reif_art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jena.Reif.Art/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenareif/