About

Jennifer Foran was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and has called Portland home since 1999. Inspired by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, she began to paint forest landscapes not on canvas but on wood. Foran’s painting process begins by observing the patterns created by the wood grain, and then responding to them. As the grain twists and turns, it begins to transform from lines to threads to paths.

A large body of her work is inspired by the views of Mt. Tabor Park in Portland.  She continues to visit the park regularly for new ideas. She credits her son, Liam, and daughter, Lydia, for her Change of Seasons Series.  The time spent with her son and daughter has made her slow down, play more, go for walks and be outside more often.  Jennifer worked full time as an Elementary Art Specialist in Ridgefield, Washington where she established an art program in 2005.  During this time, Jennifer provided art education to over 1,000 students in grades K-6.  This experience allowed her to have the opportunity to be inspired by young artists who intuitively expressed their creativity without hesitation or fear of mistakes.

  Jennifer shows her work frequently throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Jennifer has participated in local non-profit organization events such as the Bird Alliance of Portland Wild Arts Festival, School & Community Reuse Action Project (SCRAP), Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center (PEAC) And the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership (LCREP).   She also participates in community events such as Portland Open Studios and Mt. Tabor Art Walk.

When people see her art she wants them to discover the cycles within nature; the soft-spoken reminder that everything is connected; a balance of give and take.