Jaime Rovenstine is an Artist/Mother based in Kansas City, Missouri. She received her BFA from Columbia College Chicago and currently works as the Curatorial Assistant for the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Jaime is the mother of two children and she and her partner recently opened a coffee shop in midtown KC called Monarch. Her paintings are bright and bold compositions layered with geometric structures, masses of dots and washes of paint.
Jaime and I share an honest conversation about pursuing art during a busy and exhausting season of life. For Jaime this includes mothering young children, working a full time job, and helping her partner run an independent business. She talks about how difficult it can be to find time and energy to make new work and shares some great wisdom and reminders for all of us…that we can trust the long game of art making. Jaime finds encouragement knowing that so many Artist/Mothers have gone before us with careers that bloomed later in life, after their children were older. We talk about the pressures our society puts on women to “make it” before they are 30, and how it’s not sustainable in a society that does not support care-taking in wholistic ways. There are so many good moments in this conversation, I know you are going to love it!
Please check out Jaime’s website (http://jaimerovenstine.com) to view more of her work and find her on Instagram @jaimerovenstine – You can also hear Jaime talk on her episode with The Jealous Curator and see her home feature on Design Sponge!
2017. Acrylic on canvas, 22″ x 28″
Pop Minimalism series, 2018
2014. Acrylic on canvas, 48″x60″
gouache on paper, 11×14″, 2018
Jamie’s interview is so refreshing to hear. So often we only hear the edited side of the story that leaves out the struggles and doubts. That often leaves me feeling discouraged and feeling like I am struggling more than everyone else and asking why I haven’t done more. As a mother of 3 (with a span in age from 10-18) I can identify with everything Jamie says. I’ve gone through many ebbs and flows and have also thought of if quitting at times. Fortunately, quitting isn’t an option when your a creative person. The need pushes its way back in any way it can. My biggest lesson has been that at difficult times I have to focus on doing what I can do and that isn’t always what I want to do. Surprisingly that approach has led me to try things I never would have otherwise and has ultimately enriched my art practice. I hope Jamie continues to do whatever she can during this stage and doesn’t beat herself up about it. It will all come back to you and make your work and you grow when you have more time later. Thank you for this very honest I podcast.