Meet Cincinnati-based Artist Jen Dufau
Jen Dufau is a painter and visual artist based in Cincinnati. You can find her work on Instagram and on her website.
CATHOLIC ARTIST CONNECTION: Where are you from originally, and what brought you to your current city?
JEN DUFAU: I’m originally from Marysville; it’s a city outside of Columbus, OH. I moved to Cincinnati for grad school and met my husband, who is from the area. We’ve stayed ever since!
How do you understand your vocation as a Catholic artist?
Discerning my vocation has definitely been a journey. It took a while for me to figure out what I was doing with my art and what kind of message I wanted to share with it. I view my vocation as a Catholic artist as a means of sharing what I can grasp of God’s truth with as many people as I can. I think a lot of people view religious life and secular life as two different things, but what I want to paint is that there is no separation. All truth and wisdom come from God, and this can be seen in the natural world around us. Some of my art uses more Catholic symbolism than others, but I don’t view it as Catholic art or secular art. I think it’s important to practice seeing God in everything.
Where in your city do you regularly find spiritual fulfillment?
I currently attend St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in West Chester, OH. It has more modern architecture with the pews circled around the altar. It feels very welcoming and is great for families with young children, as you can get up without disturbing everyone around you. Cincinnati in general has a vibrant Catholic community with many beautiful churches and traditions. There is also a significant Franciscan community here and a shrine to St. Anthony of Padua.
What is your daily spiritual practice?
My spiritual practice is mainly focused on prayer and reading. I like to do a personal prayer and rotate different saint novenas. For more guidance, I’ve found a lot of spiritual books written by saints and theologians that have been helpful throughout my life. I’m currently reading "The Journey of the Mind to God" by St. Bonaventure. I also have been making it a habit to read the daily meditation posted on the Regnum Christi website; it uses a gospel reading paired with some great insight and reflections.
What is your daily artistic practice?
I’ve had to adjust a lot since having my son, as my time is no longer my own. I think it’s important to make time for your art, even if it’s only for a couple minutes here and there, to continue to grow as an artist. I usually focus on small painting sessions during the week and then longer sessions on the weekend when I have more time.
How do you market your art?
Social media has never been my strong suit, so I mainly focus on in-person events. Art fairs have been my favorite and most successful avenue for marketing and sales. There are tons of art fairs in Cincinnati. It’s a great way for newer artists to get their work out there, get feedback, and build a network.