As a painter finally exposing herself outside of the comforts of her home art studio, Jennifer Lynn Weber is “living the dream” as a Canadian artist.

The 39-year-old mother of two who lives north of Courtenay in a wilderness setting, is opening her home this weekend as part of the 15th annual studio tour.

Born in North York, Ont., but raised in Hockey Valley, Weber has been in the Comox Valley for the past decade honing her artist’s skills as well as being a “stay-at-home mom.” During the past 12 months, she’s devoted her time to painting.

“I feel like I’m ‘living the dream’. I stole this expression from the movie A Night at the Museum. Remember the scene with Owen Wilson catching air during the escape in the toy jeep?” she offers.

Why did Weber choose to open her home to the public and participate in the Valley’s art tour?

“I really wanted to make my space inviting to those who are interested in my artwork, hoping they will feel free to call and set up a time to come by on other occasions,” she explains. “I didn’t want to miss the opportunity that the Arts Council has given to us with this tour.”

Weber is hopeful Mother Nature continues to offer summer sunshine for the weekend event. She is planning to hang her oil on canvas original paintings out in the backyard garden. Besides tea and cookies, the artist will be working on a painting to give visitors a chance to see the artist in action.

“I’m really looking forward to this part. I will also be working on my largest canvas to date, but be forewarned, it’s a nude,” she laughs. “My girls don’t enjoy seeing these ones as their friends ask them, ‘why does your mom paint people without their clothes on?’”

Of course, her artwork is for sale. She also has art cards for purchase, plus some prints.

There’s no constant when it comes to Weber being an artist. She describes it as being “a bit scattered” in life and in art.

“I move from one idea to another. My artwork reflects this as very few pieces have much in common. It’s as though I don’t develop a memory for them … how I executed them. I’d like to do a series and work on more than one at a time as I’m curious about what I can potentially gain by doing this.”

When it comes to the creative process, Weber concedes it’s difficult to express how she feels when it comes to inspiration.

“It grows rather than presents itself. Very seldom do I have an instant desire to paint something and know exactly how I will approach it. I think through some form of osmosis I gather things from other art whether it be music, poetry, something from a novel or movie, a photograph.

“Or often I will see someone else’s artwork and think that I’d like to try that approach. Inevitably it turns out different, but it’s a starting off point.”

Having a few artist friends has also helped Weber come out of her creative shell and expose herself to art enthusiasts. She developed a friendship with Cumberland artist Lucy Schappy and her mentor, Gretchen Markle. Both act as her mentors.

“They in turn supported my desire to learn and explore along with them. We keep in close contact via e-mail still, with ongoing commentaries on life and art,” says Weber.

As an artist, Weber knows she’s always learning. Each painting is a new quest for creative knowledge. She also takes courses when she can, juggling life at home with the time she spends in her own studio or a college classroom with a nude fine arts model being used for sketch lessons.

A Lisa Kirk pure process painting class also helped Weber focus her efforts on how she expresses herself through the paint brush on the canvas. It’s not just about applying and mixing paint, with the end result being a framed painting for the hallway wall.

“This concept of expressing oneself based on how one felt, with unconscious and non-judgemental move … it blew my mind,” she explains. “My concepts of what defined art and how one went about doing art were completely challenged.

“It is still a class I highly recommend to everyone, whether they think they have any talent or not. You will be changed.”

Is there a living artist Weber calls her favourite? She says Jylian Gustlin.

“She captures the human form in a very cool way, with layers of colour, intriguing shapes. I was captivated from my first view of her work. I found myself constantly going back to her website, which is in itself an amazing piece of work. I contacted her and was invited to come to her studio while visiting San Francisco recently.”

Weber has a simple reason why she works with oil paints, versus watercolour or acrylic — the scent.

“When I began working with the oil paints again I had those scent memories which can just transport you. I find that oil paints are so sensual that it is hard not to fall in love with them.”

When she’s alone and not distracted by daughters wanting the homemade cookies she made earlier in the day, Weber is at her most creative.

“I crave solitude, and am finding the summer season a little difficult for this reason. It’s a different pace and I enjoy this, but I am missing getting in the studio to work,” she explains. “Being alone means my thoughts have a chance to grow, otherwise they get tripped on by ‘life’ and I am left grasping.

“Going from ‘life’ to ‘art’ and back again isn’t seamless for me. I’ve not yet developed the skills to move fluidly through my day. I do think though it is life that feeds my art so I don’t wish to become a recluse.:

Does she have a favourite paint colour?

“Green,” she offers, “The colour of my eyes … of new grass, the buds on trees, that glorious moss.”

Weber is never on a deadline when it comes to finishing a painting. It’s hard to say, for her, when a painting is done and ready to be framed and hung for display.

“Actually, sometimes I think a painting is done and then after a week, or several months, I paint right over it. If someone loves it and snags it before I start picking it apart, then it’s done.”

For more on her artwork visit www.jenniferweber.ca.

arts@comoxvalleyrecord.com