Jennifer Breaux Howe
Jenn was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and always felt a strong connection to the coast which has heavily influenced her work. Jenn grew up in Greenville, SC and loved drawing horses and ponies as child; high school art class was her favorite subject. After graduation, she attended Clemson University where she rode on the Equestrian Team. Friends persuaded her to join a study abroad summer session in Paris. She was so inspired from the experience that she switched her major from biology to French & International Trade so she could get back for a full semester. She traveled to many places in France to study where Monet himself had painted. She interned on the Hill in DC and would take lunch breaks to sit in front of Claude Monet’s waterlilies in the National Gallery of Art. Jenn then went to the Charleston School of Law and frequented the galleries downtown wishing that she could explore her desire to paint. Finally, once she began practicing law full time, she began painting classes as her creative outlet with a local artist. She painted paintings for her first home, and as gifts for her family and friends.
In 2013, her artwork was selected for all of the promotional items for the historic Blockhouse Steeplechase in Tryon, NC. A collector wanted to buy the painting and made a very generous offer - Jenn unexpectedly sold her first piece.
After practicing law full time for close to a decade, the Howe family welcomed the birth of their second child, Ellie George. EG had a rare birth defect, a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, that allowed all of her organs into her chest cavity which crushed her lungs and heart. She was given a 50/50 chance of survival. After a very rocky start, a long NICU stay, many surgeries and recoveries, she is thriving; however, Jenn struggled to manage her law practice, care for a sick child and combat the isolation that came with the whole experience. Jenn started staying at home with her girls in 2016 and painting during nap time - a wonderful therapy. She remembers a particularly beautiful day that she took her paints outside and was determined to not copy another artist, but paint just for herself. She fell in love with what she created, and her first small collection of paintings were created. Rather timidly, she began selling pieces to friends and neighbors.
The next big chapter came in 2021 with a move to Houston, Texas for her husband’s career. A familiar feeling of isolation, combined with home sickness overwhelmed many of those early days in Texas. With no family support in Houston, Jenn decided to focus on art and the flexibility it gave her. She made a bold leap and signed a lease for a studio at Sawyer Yards. She also began showing her art at the world famous Antique Show in Round Top, Texas, where Jenn is truly in her element.
The business and Jenn’s talent has grown slowly at times and at warp speed at other times. She is so grateful for the collectors, friends, collaborators, and family that have supported her; especially her husband, Hunter.