Meet Jennie Vegt, our new Staff Visual Artist!

We’re so excited to introduce you to our newest Artist on the Wards! Meet Jennie Vegt, a local painter who has previously worked with Covenant Health. Like our other staff artists, Jennie is incredibly talented and when she’s not creating beautiful artwork with patients and staff, you may find her painting live events!

While taking a break from working with patients, we asked Jennie some questions so staff and patients can get to know her. Take it away Jennie!

What are you looking forward to doing with the AoW program?

I’m looking forward to finding ways I can bring my particular skill sets to the program, maybe through individual portrait work and live painting in spaces for people to watch and enjoy the art making process vicariously.

You worked with the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre as a recreation therapy assistant and artist before joining us; what was your favourite experience from your time there?

My favourite aspect of my experience there was the relationships I developed with the residents. I started drawing portraits of the residents while I visited with them and then I gave them their drawn portraits. The biggest reward was when they told me that the portrait made them feel good about themselves.

What do you love most about working with patients and staff?

Working in a healthcare setting with both patients and staff provides an amazing opportunity to connect with and learn from individuals with completely different life experiences from my own. I love that in a place where big, often difficult life events are happening, I get to have the task of trying to make someone's day just a little brighter through an artistic experience.

Outside of the hospital setting you’re also a live event painter; can you tell us a little about that?

Yes! I bring my easel to events like weddings or corporate parties and paint the scene of the party live on location. It’s fun for the guests to watch themselves appear on the canvas and it’s a fun keepsake. It’s been excellent for my professional practice as it’s forced me to keep it swift and fresh!

Each of our artists’ have a cart they take up to units; what is on your cart?

On my cart, there are supplies for little projects like making cards for loved ones or painting rocks and also supplies for what I call “art hacks”…which are no-fail projects that turn out beautifully even if you haven’t touched an art project since kindergarten!

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you!

In 2003 got to be a background actor on the show Smallville … so I’m basically a movie star.