For as long as the prolific and visionary artist Jeneen Poole can remember, art has always been a quiet companion in her life. Growing up in Chicago, she would slip away to the Art Institute of Chicago whenever she could, wandering through galleries and losing herself in the brushstrokes of the masters—Van Gogh, Monet, Seurat, Renoir, Picasso. Their ability to capture landscapes, light, and human form fascinated her.

A Journey from Uncertainty to Unshakable Purpose

It wasn’t until 2019, nearly 30 years later, that creativity found its way back into Jeneen’s life. It all started when her home needed repairs, and what started as a remodeling project slowly awakened something inside her. She began experimenting with design and built patio furniture. She felt a spark she hadn’t felt in decades.

“The word tells us that God will bless the work of our hands.” – Jeneen Poole

In January 2025, Jeneen hosted a simple paint party with her family around her dining room table. She painted a hummingbird and a disco lady. Her sister, Cynthia, noticed her artwork and told her it was really good. That moment lit a fire in her and changed everything. The artist promised herself that she would commit to art and host an exhibition by the end of the year. That is just what Jeneen did. On November 8, 2025, the artist showed her work publicly for the first time at an outdoor neighborhood market.

Back then, no one was aware of her artistic abilities—not even her. She believes that if her parents or her husband were aware, they would have pushed her long ago. They are her biggest supporters. This year, her husband, father, and stepmom invested in her a location for her studio. She advises others to accept the help; sometimes, we can block the support God has sent to us. Jeneen says, “The word tells us that God will bless the work of our hands.” It was this biblical verse that made her start trusting God with her talent.

Jeneen Poole Inspiration

As a teenager, Jeneen drew with soft pastels, using art to express pain she didn’t have the words for. The painter’s influences are rooted in the countless hours she spent studying the greats. She learned from the masters how emotion, color, and movement can live forever on a canvas. It is her emotions, relationships, and culture that shape her art today. Every feeling she experiences finds its way into her paintings, whether it is a news story, song, or conversation with others; each becomes a spark. If you look closely at Poole’s art, you can see exactly what she was thinking or feeling that day.

Jeneen Poole Artistic Process

Before Jeneen Poole begins, the canvas often sits on her easel for days or even weeks while she stares at it, waiting for the right feeling to rise. “I’ll be honest. A blank canvas scares me,” says the artist. Poole scrolls through images, saves photos, and lets ideas simmer. Sometimes a conversation or a societal issue pushes her to express something deeper, for instance, the attack on our freedom to learn and make our own choices. That frustration initiated her “book paintings.” Jeneen’s best work comes when she allows herself to feel fully and allows emotion to burst out of her and onto the canvas.

Jeneen’s subjects depend on what she feels to express. Family and friends often appear in the painter’s work—not as exact likenesses, but through features, cultural elements, or shared experiences. Conversations with her dad and husband also inspire themes. Much of her art tells stories about Black people and women. When this artist learns something new, she paints it. While learning more about African history led to pieces like The Ancestors, The Guardians, and The King Protea.

The artist works with both acrylic and oil for different reasons. Acrylic dries fast and allows her to produce a lot in a short time. Oil, on the other hand, is creamy and luxurious—like painting with butter. It forces her to slow down, breathe, and enjoy the process. She loves experimenting with mixed fabrics, newspaper, paste, or anything that adds texture and story.

Overcoming Challenges

Jeneen faces many challenges in creating art. When inspiration runs low, Jeneen reconnects with her emotions. She talks to God, seeks wisdom, and lets herself feel deeply. When she does, it’s like a dam breaking—ideas rush in. One of her biggest challenges is time. She wants to paint nonstop, but life still requires her to sleep, eat, and take care of responsibilities.

Rejection is another challenge—pouring her heart into a piece and hoping someone will love it is vulnerable. But she keeps going. One of Jeneen’s most challenging pieces is The Positano View. It tested her in every way. It was deeply personal and full of detail. She chose oil paint, which meant layers upon layers. It felt like she would never finish, but the struggle made the final piece even more meaningful.

Jeneen Poole Impact on Others

Right now, Jeneen Poole is working on Painted, a series exploring how different cultures use face paint. She is also continuing her book paintings to dive deeper into new topics. Poole’s long-term goal is simple, and that is to encourage others. She wants to show that you’re never too old to start something new. To expose people to forgotten or unknown stories. To inspire someone to step out on faith and keep learning.

The painter wants her work to challenge how people see the world and the culture we live in. Jeneen wants viewers to feel pride, love, joy, and curiosity. She wants them to learn something new about themselves. Most of all, spark a desire to learn more.

Letting Love for Art Lead the Way

Studying at the Glassell School of Art has helped artist Jeneen Poole understand what she is doing with paint and refine her skills. Looking at other artists’ work fills her with ideas and pushes her to explore new techniques. Inspiration is contagious. Success for Jeneen is when someone buys one of her paintings. One day, she desires to have enough people love her work so that she can paint full-time. Her advice is to believe in yourself. If you love what you do, then someone else will too. She doesn’t paint to get rich but because she loves it and she has something to say.

To learn more about Jeneen Poole and view more of her artwork, visit https://jeneentpooleart.com/

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