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Creative Inspiration
Posts about what sparks ideas—from nature walks to vintage flea‑market finds.
O.M.G.! What Was That?!?: February Moments of Calm and Chaos
February’s startled monk captures the moment calm collides with chaos. Read about mindful jumps, tiny surprises, and creative inspiration.
Jennifer Jones
3 days ago3 min read
When Words and Art Don’t Feel Right: My Artistic Process in Action
Discover how small adjustments in my artistic process, from a buffalo’s muzzle to an octopus’s gaze, bring my paintings to life and keep the creative journey full of surprises and laughter.
Jennifer Jones
Jan 242 min read
Coconut Octopus Painting in Green and Purple Underwater Scene
Follow the progress of my coconut octopus painting in bold green and purple. The underwater scene is still evolving, inspired by fascinating creatures from the Houston Museum of Natural History. Watch as this little octopus and its companions come to life on the canvas.
Jennifer Jones
Jan 211 min read
Creativity With Constraints: Inspiration or Frugality from Growing Up with Ten Siblings
Creativity with constraints began long before my art career. Growing up with ten siblings shaped my frugal habits, leftover paint practices, and unexpected artistic inspiration.
Jennifer Jones
Jan 183 min read
The Truth a Painting Tells in the Painting Process
Sometimes the most important lesson in art is listening to the canvas. Painting over mistakes can be the key to discovering what it truly wants to become.
Jennifer Jones
Jan 142 min read
Repairing Stacked Serenity: A Quiet Re-Do
Finishing the patch on Stacked Serenity gave me a chance to revisit the sky, water, and rocks—small adjustments, big reflections on the painting’s evolution.
Jennifer Jones
Jan 112 min read
A Painting Reboot: Chasing the Signature Piece
A painting reboot begins with big ideas, a huge canvas, and a flamingo—then takes an unexpected turn when human figures refuse to cooperate.
Jennifer Jones
Jan 82 min read
Creative Reflection: A Year of Two AIs, Two Selves, and Asking Better Questions
A creative reflection on asking AI about your work life and your art life—and discovering they politely refuse to overlap. Plus, a goat or two with opinions.
Jennifer Jones
Jan 43 min read
O.M.G.! Just… No: Funny January Reflection
Meet the January Monk, a grumpy little sage silently protesting the new year’s resolutions. A funny January reflection full of dry humor, sarcastic observations, and a creative prompt for your own rebellion.
Jennifer Jones
Jan 13 min read
How We’re Planning to Make 2026 Memorable
Matt and I are taking control of 2026. After a quiet 2025, we’re scheduling fun, from plays and concerts to weekend getaways like Houston. Join us as we share our adventures, new restaurants, festivals, and spontaneous activities, because life deserves more than just rolling along.
Jennifer Jones
Dec 28, 20252 min read
Discover the 2026 Humanized Grotesque Calendar: Twelve Faces You Can’t Look Away From
Meet the 2026 humanized grotesque calendar—twelve unsettling yet captivating faces. Discover their stories and contact Jennifer S Jones to purchase your copy!
Jennifer Jones
Nov 23, 20252 min read
Wildebeest or Bust: A Road Trip to Remember
Before I paint an animal, I want to see it in person - not a picture or a video - in real life. Everywhere we go, we take a trip to the zoo. We have visited zoos all over the country.
Jennifer Jones
Nov 20, 20254 min read
Finding Beauty in the Process and Accepting What We Cannot Control
I spent years hoping to go gray only to learn something deeper about art, life, and patience. This is a story about letting go of control and embracing the journey.
Jennifer Jones
Nov 16, 20253 min read
Originality in Art: Lessons from Nature at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
A museum visit reminded me of a college professor’s challenge: there are no new ideas, only new ways to see them. From shells and mollusks to a boomerang-headed amphibian, I found endless inspiration for future paintings—and a reminder that originality in art often begins with looking closely at what’s already around us.
Jennifer Jones
Nov 5, 20253 min read
Galapagos Tortoises – Houston Zoo
Matt and I always visit the zoo wherever we travel, and Houston was no exception. The Galapagos Tortoises stole the show with their joyful splashing and surprising swimming skills.
Jennifer Jones
Oct 30, 20252 min read
Discovering Dumbo Octopus and Blobfish: Inspiration for My Underwater Painting
Exploring the quirky world of Dumbo octopus and Blobfish as inspiration for my next underwater painting. Follow my creative process and sea creature discoveries!
Jennifer Jones
Oct 8, 20252 min read
Fantasy Coffins: What Would Yours Be?
Fantasy Coffins are hand crafted works of art from Ghana, designed to honor a life well lived. From flamingos to paintbrushes, the possibilities are endless. I am about to see the largest collection outside Ghana at Houston’s National Museum of Funeral History.
Jennifer Jones
Oct 5, 20252 min read
Painting the Merry Men of Mount Rushmore - Update
Abraham Lincoln’s eyes are fixed, but his mouth is misbehaving. George Washington’s collar surprised me. Jefferson finally has a chin. My Merry Men of Mount Rushmore painting is testing my patience, one dab of paint at a time.
Jennifer Jones
Sep 18, 20252 min read
It's all a Matter of Perspective: Whale Tail, Snail, or the Catch Light in a Monk’s Eye?
Perspective is a funny thing. What looks like a whale tail to me might look like a snail to you. In painting and in life, the smallest details like the catch light in a monk’s eye can completely change how we see things.
Jennifer Jones
Sep 14, 20252 min read
Merrymen of Mount Rushmore: Progress Report
President Lincoln is looking less like a terrified monster and more like himself—though his eyes are still a saga. Follow the slow irony of Merrymen of Mount Rushmore, painted in acrylic, stone faces with real eyes.
Jennifer Jones
Sep 4, 20252 min read