Check Out Jenny McGee’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny McGee

Hi Jenny, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Like you, my life is the result of a million mysterious influences. Some of those shaping influences include the power of love, like the love I share with parents, husband, children and friends. Other shaping influences include the suffering of the world and my own suffering. Still other influences come from a deep spiritual well that defies description. It is the well of hope and at its edge I have quenched my thirst.

As I healed, my art evolved. Tenacious trees, with their deep roots, inspired me, while the resilience of inspiring people became a way to share hope. Historical places served as reminders of the beauty surrounding us. Abstract art became a way to let my emotions flow without judgment, offering a safe space for release and reflection. These elements became metaphors for life’s resilience—my own journey—and a faith-filled vision of the future.

I have been so richly blessed in so many different ways and my life experience has revealed great paradox and mystery: imperfection as perfection, vulnerability as strength, and brokenness as wholeness.

It gives me such pleasure and satisfaction to share my joy with you, invite you into this transforming space, tease out your imagination, and help you share this world of color and gritty texture. Please allow me to guide you to beauty through such elemental things as scattered stones, pearls, torn papers and clays underneath the surface. This is the stark and shattering world in which we live. It is an enchanted one. And our journey of love, suffering and hope passes right through the middle of it.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I started painting over ten years ago when my husband and I were serving as missionaries in El Salvador. It was a way for me to process my emotions and deal with the huge life transition we were facing. At the time, I had no intention of selling these pieces. It took me seven years to create a body of 20 paintings, all inspired by the song “Here I Am, Lord” by Daniel Schutte. The song speaks about becoming the hands and feet of God and listening to that quiet voice inside, inspiring us to move forward with trust. This collection became my first visual diary, helping me heal from the pain of developing world poverty I was witnessing around me.

In October 2009, while still in El Salvador, I received the most unexpected news—I had an aggressive form of cancer. At the time, I was busy caring for our two young children, but just ten days after the diagnosis, my family—Dave, Jonny, Ema, and I—moved to Columbia, Missouri to be near family so I could receive immediate treatment.

The healing journey that followed taught me many life lessons. As I healed, so did my artwork. In the early days of treatment, I began creating what I called “fight cancer” art right on the kitchen floor of our apartment. I tore up cancer brochures and made art out of them. A few months later, I moved into my own art studio, where I could process and express all that I was experiencing. I became captivated by the image of trees—they inspired me to stay strong through the storm, but they also became a metaphor for relying on God’s strength rather than my own. A quote by Brother Lawrence, “The secret to the life of a tree is that it remains rooted in something deeper than itself,” hung in my studio and spoke to me every day.

I also found a connection to old windows and doors, which I began painting on. I wanted to give them a new life, a second chance—just like I felt I had been given after the doctor confirmed the cancer was no longer in my body. My work has always conveyed an important message: one of strength, recovery, and hope. It has found a path through trauma to artistic beauty, self-knowledge, and self-worth, celebrating one of the great mysteries of life and faith: that imperfection can be perfection, vulnerability is strength, and brokenness is wholeness.

Today, my abstract work and painted paper collages are where I find my focus and place my attention. My collages, in particular, offer a way to appreciate the special places and faces of Missouri, helping me notice the things in my life that I might have overlooked before. These art collages celebrate the people, places, and things that make the Midwest feel like home. My hope is that this artwork honors your favorite personal landmark in a fresh and unique way.

Each collage begins with collecting unique papers from all over the world. I then hand-cut every piece and add paint to create the scene of interest, resulting in a painted paper collage of a special location. This process allows me to capture the essence of meaningful places and share them in a way that feels personal and vibrant.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What separates me from other artists are a few things. I’ve been given so many second chances in life, and the perspective that comes from overcoming obstacles helps me quickly sort through what is truly important and what isn’t. It also gives me a tenacious spirit that no one can take away.

Right now, I specialize in two creative directions: abstract mixed media paintings that help people express their love and painted paper collages of special places and faces. A commissioned painting from me is more than art—it’s a glimpse of your life told through my hands. A special memory or aspect of your history comes alive through textured and layered art, creating an artistic legacy that can be passed down from generation to generation.

I’ve had the honor of creating paintings for notable people such as the former president of Estée Lauder and Bravo/HGTV design star Kelli Ellis. My work hangs in numerous public and private collections, and my increasingly collectible status has attracted a growing list of patrons. My paintings have been featured on HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation, Million Dollar Mansions, and next year will appear on PBS’s Making series. Some of my clients include HGTV designers, the Group President of Estée Lauder and Clinique, Charter Communications, Central Bank, Sigfried Bingham Law Firm, Midwest Transplant Network, and private collectors from the Jersey Shore to Wall Street.

A few things I’m really proud of include creating a training program that helps other artists learn business and art marketing skills so they too can reach their dreams. I’ve shared all my success secrets and tips that have helped me along the way, so others can fast-track their own success and avoid many of the mistakes I’ve made. It is super affordable and I have helped over 100 artists so far. It is called The Profitable Artist Academy.

I’m also especially proud of developing a unique approach to creating meaningful, special artwork that centers around the person I’m working with. When I’m able to craft a piece of art that reflects someone else’s life and helps them express what they love, it often brings me to tears. It’s a truly remarkable experience to witness the unveiling and see the deep emotional connection that art can create. For example, one of the first things Ben told me about Kate is that she is one of those people that you’re better for knowing. She is emotionally strong, paves her own way, and his friends tease him that she’s funnier than he is. She lets him be him, and she strikes a perfect balance between being outspoken, but subtle.

Kate always teased Ben that he loved her from the first time they met. He would never admit it until now, but she was right. And after several years together, he wanted to create a painting for her as part of a wedding proposal. He wanted her painting to reflect the colors he knew she loved. He even studied the clothes in her closet to find the right hues. But most importantly, he wanted the painting to include the words, “You were right. I loved you from day one.”

On May 29th, Ben reserved a room at Shakespeare’s West and told Kate his parents were coming in town to fix up the family cabin. When the couple entered the room, a crowd of loved ones started clapping with excitement. Kate looked so confused and shocked. But then Ben dropped to his knee and asked if she would marry him. Kate giggled uncontrollably and said yes! He slid a ring pop on her finger (they’ll design the ring together later) and jumped up with excitement. He explained the painting with his words on it, and used it to express his love for her. It was a beautiful day.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is simple: love. One of the strongest lessons cancer taught me is how vital love is, especially in the context of relationships. The legacy I want to leave behind is one of love—learning to love better and helping others deepen their connections with the people they care about.

I believe that no matter your social location or cultural setting, you can make a difference in people’s lives. What’s required is a reverence for life and the understanding that a better world doesn’t come from sweeping changes, but as Mother Teresa said, from “doing small things with great love.

I’ve come to realize that sometimes finding the right words to express how much we care can feel impossible, or our words might not fully convey the depth of our feelings. That’s when it hit me: words alone often fall short, but when combined with art, those emotions can be seen, felt, and understood on a much deeper level.

Pricing:

• $5 – $15,000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artistjennymcgee.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistjennymcgee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennymcgeeart/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jennymcgee6263
• Other: https://creatablehaven.etsy.com and https://www.artistjennymcgee.com/Profitable-Artist-Academy