Jennie de Mello e Souza

“My desire is to call attention to the fragility of life, the precious quality in each being, and the idea that each creature has a secret life infused in each piece.”

Jennifer (Jennie) de Mello e Souza, originally from Virginia, has lived in Edmonds, Washington since 2002. Jennie majored in Art and Art History and has a certificate in Scientific Illustration from the Musée d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris. Jennie paints and sculpts in her home studio. Her current focus is nature studies. These works are an exploration of whimsy, beauty, and love of all things in nature. Her landscapes are made from memories of time, and the primal longing to get outside. According to Jennie, whether she is painting or creating ceramic art, “I am a teaching artist and an eternal student. It fuels my growth and curiosity.” As a teen, her love of art was stimulated when she spent a gap year studying abroad in the UK, where she visited many art galleries and museums. After receiving her BA in Art and Art History from Franklin and Marshall College, she spent many years living in Brazil and France, studying scientific illustration, printmaking, and ceramics. In 2012, she decided to dedicate a year in Brazil to studying painting. She produced a body of work that she then exhibited in the U.S. She has not stopped making art or exhibiting since then.  Jennie has had numerous solo shows and group exhibitions, including the Edmonds Art Studio Tour. Jennie has received awards and has been featured in a variety of magazines and local papers. She currently teaches Visual Arts at a public high school and offers workshops in watercolor.