Hello, I’m Jeni…
Thank you for visiting me here! For the last 20+ years I have been working as an illustrator and metalsmith. I’ve had a love of art and a penchant for science all my life. By day I am a certified medical illustrator; I create medical and scientific illustration for publication and patient education, 2D animation, web publishing, interactive and graphic design. In the evenings, that love of science gets infused into my craft work. Hence you will see lots of bugs and blossoms!
I received a BS in Biological Sciences and a BA in Studio Art while minoring in German language from the University of Maryland. Most recently, I graduated with my second masters in the Business of Art and Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). In the past, I served as a scientific illustrator and research associate in entomology for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC within the National Museum of Natural History.
Realizing the need to make space for my own creative practice, I established my studio, Jeni Elizabeth. I like to create watercolor/cut-paper style Judaica art prints inspired from the many Jewish traditions and holidays I grew up with. I’ve designed many art prints for weddings (ketubahs), anniversaries, baby namings, b’nai mitzvot and holidays. Some of these designs are offered as limited edition prints in my shop, and are also available as print-on-demand on Fine Art America. Clients have also commissioned me to create custom prints for unique occassions.
Above are few examples of the kinds of illustrations I create as gifts outside of my normal illustration work.
Aside from illustration, my main focus at Jeni Elizabeth is contemporary jewelry fabrication. My studio is my laboratory: I enjoy very experimental approaches and often incorporate found objects into precious adornments for the body and the home. All of my wares can be found here in the shop at Jeni Elizabeth. I also create custom designs for clients.
My metalsmithing journey started as I learned how to create handmade jewelry nearly 2 decades ago, quite by accident. I started taking creative enrichment classes in Boston, MA. Reluctantly, I signed up for the always “sold out” jewelry class, questioning, “what’s the big deal?” I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, thinking I was going to be working with beads and wire. The first day of class my instructor fired up the torch and handed it to me. Intimidated at first, I’ve been smitten ever since.
After many years of experimenting in techniques such as soldering, electroforming, casting, enameling, granulation, die-forming, and etching, I began to create my first production line centered around blossoms and cicadas. I decided to launch my nature inspired jewelry line in 2016. Now and then I update my production-line with new ideas and experiments from the studio. While most of my work is traditionally fabricated with precious metals, sometimes I use recycled materials like school supplies, tins and courtesy cards. Other times I am playing with industrial materials like powder-coat.
Jeni Elizabeth Jewelry combines my love for all things nature, including botanical elements like blossoms and branches, insects (especially cicadas) and other curiosa. The materials I like to use include silver, bronze, copper, glass, dried flowers, old family photos, ephemera and other precious elements. Though you’ll notice a theme throughout my designs, each piece is handmade and unique. Feel free to message me with any questions and enjoy shopping!
customized adornments:
#makecicadatime
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?I always tell my students to make cicada time. I am so used to making art for other people at their specifications and on tight deadlines. Time flies; life gets hectic. It’s important that we all make time and space for making our own creative outlets. Making art for art’s sake helps us constantly tinker and learn new things that feed our daily practice. For me, that was always giving into my obsession with nature, specifically botanicals and insects. One of my favorite motifs is the cicada which represents life-cycles and renewal. I constantly want to reinvent my creative process to keep things fresh, making “cicada time” a regular priority.
handmade nature-inspired jewelry
