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Biography
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Jennifer Rikkers was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was raised in beautiful White Bear Lake, Minnesota. She is the eldest child to Edward and Judy McCormick. Her parents and siblings, Tyler and Krissy McCormick live in the twin cities area today. Jennifer pursued her undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With a major in Psychology and emphasis in Women's Studies, Jennifer new she was interested in the issues that affect people's lives socially and emotionally.
It was here during her undergraduate studies that she met and fell in love with her future husband, Andy Rikkers, who was a pre-med student. After graduation from U.W., Jennifer and Andy were married and moved to Kansas City, KS where Andy was a medical student. Here Jennifer worked as a substance abuse counselor and learned more than any book could teach about the realities of life. After moving to the Detroit area and working in mental health, Jennifer pursued her Master's in Social Work while interning at an adolescent treatment center and adoption agency and later working as a social school worker. Jennifer became a mother to her son, Judson, in 2001 and then again in 2003 to son, Drew. The family then moved to Strasbourg, France for a year for Andy to pursue his fellowship in advanced laproscopic surgery. After their year abroad, Jennifer's family moved back to settle their lives in Monroe, WI, where they currently live. Her third son, Jack was born Halloween, 2006. With a very full life raising her family full-time Jennifer felt the desire to be able to express herself.
These experiences have all shaped Jennifer as an artist, woman and mother. Jennifer had the good fortune of meeting her mentor and friend, artist Deborah Meyer, while living in Monroe. Jennifer had kept a sketch book for years and had always been a great admirer of art. The artist's soul within Jennifer had long desired to be expressed but was unsure of how. Deborah helped her find her artist's soul and gave her the skills to able to express it. With Deborah's guidance, Jennifer began drawing, experimenting with color, textures, mediums and began painting in the summer of 2007. It was here that Jennifer found her great passion! Today, Jennifer's work is a reflection of her everyday life and experiences. It is her intention that you to will feel something when you see her work, whether it be joy for the beauty of an image or a deeper emotion for a social message. |
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