Jennifer Balkan didn’t start out to be an artist. She earned a Ph.D in anthropological sociology, but after seeing master paintings in France, Italy, and Spain, she knew she had to switch gears and study art. Jennifer shares about how she transitioned into full-time painting, her experiences with galleries, social media, looking out for yourself, and balancing painting life with family life. Jennifer offers tips on pushing yourself to be your best, determining which galleries to work with, and working through grief. She stresses the importance of both working hard to learn the language of painting, and of playful riffs and exploration.