Artist bio

Growing up on a ‘dead end’ road in the country; Northwest Ohio-native artist, Jennifer Sowders, grew up spending a lot of time studying nature and it’s indelible thread is noted within her painted landscape and figurative series bodies of work. A 1994 BFA graduate from the Columbus College of Art and Design, she has signature membership in: Ohio Watercolor Society and Watercolor USA Honor Society. She holds associate membership in: Allied Artists, American Impressionist and National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Societies. New to acrylic landscapes as of 2021, she debuted with an honorable mention in AcrylicWorks 9 : The Best of Acrylic and has since been a finalist in issues 10, 11 & 12. She is also an avid watercolorist, having 2 pieces in the Ohio Arts Council collection. She is author of “Bible Promises Spoken”, a 100+ topical Bible Promise video series, through her YouTube channel: hearingGod. Selected prints of her work can be found at: propheticsgallery.com Her most recent accomplishments have been in receiving the Ohio Watercolor Society's Silver Medal, 2nd place in the landscape division of the Artists Magazine’s 40th Annual, and Grand Prize in International Artist magazine's challenge #141 and #149 Landscapes ('24/'25, Two years in a row!). She is currently represented by the Toledo Museum of Art’s Collector Corner, Gallery 317 (Bryan, OH) and is actively welcoming further representation and group show opportunities as well.​ Jennifer opens up her Fostoria, Ohio studio and gallery space: MONgallery and Art Studio, every MONday to visitors. She coined “MON” to represent “Middle Of Nowhere” because of her rural location where she lives with husband, Gary and has 3 sons.

Title

Dear Children

Medium/Genre

Painting

Artist Statement

I had a season where my great nephew and niece visited a lot and I really noticed the little things that they picked up on in family gatherings. I was reminded of the scripture in 1 John 3:18.
I snapped pictures of my nephew in my art studio and created "Dear Children" using watercolor, watercolor pencils and ink on a Yupo surface. I manipulated text in photoshop and then created a mask for the text so it was artful, yet very readable: "Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

How it fits into contest

1 John 3:18 NLT
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

I wanted to integrate the scripture into the work; with the child examining it, as a tangible truth.
They Do see and hear us and it is so important that we train them up in the way that they should go.

Credits

My model: Jameson Burkmier

How to Purchase this Artwork

n/a The original has sold.

Other Goods & Services Available from this Artist

Originals, prints and prints on merchandise: https://jens.faso.com/works

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The 2026 Engage Art Contest will be accepting new artwork in January 2026!