Summer may be winding down, but its nostalgia lingers in the Sunshine State all year long. Jenna Alexander, a St. Augustine-based representational oil painter and owner of Jenna Fine Art Studio in uptown St. Augustine, captures the timeless essence of summer nostalgia in her new art collection launching Aug. 30.
Alexander sees the beauty in the ordinary. Her body of work includes stunning landscapes and seascapes as well as detailed and whimsical still lifes. Each of her colorful and lively paintings tells a story.
Alexander was inspired to paint her newest collection, “Beach Nostalgia,” when a client commissioned her to paint an old family beach photo from the ’90s. Alexander enjoyed the process and began asking her followers online if they had any old beach photos that they would like a painting of. Alexander was surprised when she received more than 500 images from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.
So far, she has created 25 9-by-12-inch paintings based on the photos. While she can’t paint all of them, she has loved getting a glimpse into beloved summer memories. She has received international photos as well from countries like Turkey and Spain. She gives each client the option to purchase the original and offers prints as well, which are available on her website.
When asked what she likes best about what she does, Alexander said that she enjoys meeting new people and having the flexibility to prioritize her kids. No day is the same and painting in nature is fulfilling.
Jenna Fine Art Studio is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can visit the studio by appointment during weekdays. Alexander loves to teach and offers art classes at her studio and over Zoom. To keep up to date on upcoming classes and see her new collection available for purchase, go to jennafineartstudio.com.
