A Custom Art Journey: From Serendipitous Reunion to Timeless Creation
It never ceases to amaze me what unfolds inside my exhibit booth. The stories run deep, and the way my people discover my artwork while I, in turn, discover the dynamic humans who become part of my spheres of influence is beyond beautiful. To everyone who has crossed paths with me in these past few months, your presence has left a lasting impact. While I may write about our stories in the future, today, I want to share the incredible journey of a recent custom art commission.
This journey began when a delightful couple, “D & W” entered my exhibit booth space. As is common during these shows, we exchanged stories about where we were from. To our delight, we discovered that we all hailed from Minnesota. As a Minnesota gal, this always brings me joy, but this time, it was different.
As our conversation unfolded, an astonishing realization emerged—we had all graduated from the same high school and later, the same university. Decades apart, yet here we were, our paths crossing in the most unexpected way. It’s such a small world, I’m beginning to suspect there’s just one giant group chat none of us were invited to! So swept up in the shock of our accidental high school and college reunion, we completely forgot to talk about art! HA! As they departed, we laughed, and cheered.
Days later, I awoke to an email from “D” through my website’s contact form. This led to a series of lively phone conversations, and soon, we were firming up a custom commission for their new home. Determining the correct dimension took a minute, but what was crystal clear to “D” was that she had seen a piece from my Gallery Page—The Coastal Collection—and wanted a creation in that spirit.
Meanwhile, as I immersed myself in this project, the LA fires had just begun and were raging on, with no end in sight. The wind forecast only worsened, unleashing an uncontrollable fire storm, howling at 80-100 mph, turning the chaos into a wild, unpredictable beast. Yes, I was evacuated, and during that harrowing time, this water-inspired custom piece became my fixation. The energy in my studio was indescribable—facing the real-life concern of losing everything, yet pouring every ounce of my artistic soul into this process. It was a moment of profound clarity, gratitude, and unwavering dedication, to life, while we have it.
After countless hours of revisiting and refining the piece, I knew it was ready. “D” and I had many conversations—calls and texts—throughout the process, and when delivery day arrived, we were both beyond excited. Upon arriving at their home, we took our time, reveling in our story! I had brought additional pieces for them to explore, knowing and discussing a secondary location she was trying to complete. For hours, we floated between artworks, envisioning their perfect placements, laughing, swapping stories, and simply enjoying the moment like old friends on a spontaneous adventure.
Our meeting was a complete joy, an extension of how it all began—three people, ready to connect, create, and celebrate. As I walked out their door, I carried with me not only the fulfillment of another masterpiece but deep gratitude. Thank you, “D & W”, what a beautiful way to begin and end a January—one that will never be forgotten, marked by the LA fires that left their unforgettable mark on the city and our hearts. In the midst of it all, it’s the small things we learn to treasure inside the chaos of this planet. It is our calling to cherish every moment, every creation, and every connection we can gather, for they are the true treasures of life.
Ultimately, this world can feel like one endless reunion, and we should all realize we are invited—woven into a grand, unfolding story, with infinite possibilities waiting to be embraced. -Jennifer Rae Ochs
Each custom project is an honor, a new experimental adventure to shake things up with renewed intention to create one of a kind uniqueness in harmony with the collector’s environment, bringing forth the spirit of the space. Ultimately, our home is where our mind reflects, body rejuvenates, and spirit soars.
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