Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Gerszewski.
Hi Jenna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have a Bachelor of Arts w/ Emphasis in Drawing from MSU-Moorhead in 2010. After a few years of not utilizing my degree beyond being a grocery store cake decorator, I started doing a bunch of DIY projects for my wedding back in 2014.
One of those projects being a wood burned live-edge sign for our S’mores Bar with an old 1970’s pyrography tool my mom had gotten on an auction. Then while trying to make more cool things for my house, I tried out using that tool to customize wood utensils and cutting boards and making gifts for friends.
In 2018 when we found IVF was the only way we’d get to experience pregnancy and becoming parents, I turned that hobby into a side hustle. Making mainly things that were palatable for many but not necessarily unique in design.
Now our little IVF science baby is 6 years old and I’ve found my own style and niche. The last couple years I’ve leaned heavily into making pieces that add magic and whimsy to the everyday lives and homes, utilizing mainly wood items I’ve thrifted.
Then this past January, I expanded by hosting monthly workshops making “witch crafts” with other magical people in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been steady. The biggest hurdle is the imposter syndrome that comes with being an artist in general. I’ve learned to celebrate any wins, big or small and see how the perceived losses have serves and limits that go with that.
For example, there’s been a few in-person vending markets that haven’t panned out to even pay for a booth space, but I was able to make connections with people to create other opportunities. Or the art I made for those events became new inventory for one of the locations that support me as a vendor in their storefront.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create art for witches and spooky-year-round people to bring more magic and whimsy to their lives. Anything from kitchen utensils/cutting boards to altar pieces for deity/goddess work. It’s mostly pyrography (wood burning) and acrylic paint on usually thrifted pieces of wood.
I’m most proud of probably my 6 Goddess series I’m still working on. It’s not in technique that’s difficult, but in the story behind them. I was inspired by my friend Katie – who makes small batch acrylic and watercolor paints as Enlightened Art Supply- and the color palette she made in honor of the 6 Goddesses who came to her aid as she went through a domestic violence situation. Each color was named after those goddesses – Hecate, Persephone, Nyx, Lilith, Kali, The Morrigan. Trying to capture their strength and do the colors justice has been the biggest part. But once all 6 are complete, I’ll be making prints to go into my “Prints for a Cause” section. Every print sold from the first run of 25 of each goddess, will have $3 donated to Sollera (formerly Rape and Abuse Crisis Center of Fargo).
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
When I started I thought I had to have everything figured out. The website, business plan, marketing, a cohesive design across everything….but if you wait until you have all of it, you might keep putting off jumping in completely.
I now know that trusting my intuition is the best in my business decision making. The best results have come from diving headfirst into things and learning from the experience. Otherwise I could ruminate about every detail just to talk myself out of opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Ermagershdesigns.myshopify.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ermagershdesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EuYbF21fa/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ermagershdesigns
