Hello, my name is Jimena, although most know me as Jimena Reno. I was born in Spain but I moved to California in 2017 to further develop my art career.
I studied Fine Arts at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and was inspired by other wonderful artists such as J.S.Sargent, Joaquín Sorolla, Velázquez, as well as contemporary ones. As the years passed, I drifted away from other creative fields to fully commit to art; more specifically oil painting, but also touching some gouache and watercolor techniques.
I have been sharing my process on my Youtube Channel, and Instagram though a deeper view is found on my Patreon where I share my painting demonstrations, tips and behind the scenes.
What’s your preferred medium to paint? Have you tried different mediums before?
My all time medium to paint will always be oil. I've tried watercolors and acrylics but it's never the same. Oil painting gives me the freedom to add or modify anything and I think that's why I love it so much!
Favorite living artists?
Truthfully there are many artists that inspire me, amongst them are Richard Schmid, Michelle Dunaway, Lena Danya, Ruth Speer, Alan Lee, Kathy Anderson...
Favorite museum?
My favorite museum will always be El Museo del Prado, in Madrid. I used to visit it frequently when I was in college and always get inspired by the timeless beauty of Velázquez, Goya, & Sorolla.
What’s the meanest thing someone has said about your art? How did you respond?
Once someone said I had no talent. It wasn't specific to any painting. I always think what people say is a reflection of who they are on the inside, so I assume that person was going through some rough stuff and this was a way to deal with the dark they had inside.
I don't think I responded. I either ignore that or block them directly. I feel like sometimes If you respond to those things, you give them your attention and that's exactly what they wanted.
Who was you biggest supporter when you decided to pursue art as a career?
My parents have always been my biggest supporters. My dad believed in me since forever probably haha. My mom was a bit harder on me, but once I showed her that I was passionate about it she completely understood and was always always there for me.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to make art for a living?
I'd say go for it, 100%, it is possible. It will be hard at first, but I think the difficulty is on making yourself known. If people know you, then you have 50% done, the rest is up to marketing yourself and people liking what you do.
I never in a million years would imagine I'd have a store and people would purchase my paintings, so you just have to believe in yourself, as cheesy as it sounds.
Jimena's Favorite Trekell Products: