Jen Livia

Displayed in WEV's Ventura Office

Jen Livia's passion is creating with color, light and movement in a variety of mediums including photography, acrylic paint and computer graphics. Much of her art relates to natural elements in the world and vibrant colors; and her pieces have a sense of quiet movement to them. The camera was her first tool. As a kid she explored a variety of textures in nature and in small details. While at UCSD working on her Photography degree, Jen began exploring these same elements in paint, focusing on how different colors interact with one another on canvas, as well as the play of light within painting.

Jen, and her mother Phyllis, are the owners of the Red Brick Gallery, which opened in December 2006 in downtown Ventura. Their dream for years was to own a gallery where they could sell their art, as well as give a variety of artists they enjoyed the same opportunity to sell their work. Red Brick Gallery features over 200 emerging and mid-career artists who have not yet acquired mainstream exposure, while simultaneously providing visitors with an enjoyable art experience. The girls strive to create an environment that is stimulating and unique; and where the public can appreciate and purchase artworks from a variety of unique artists. After graduating from WEV's Self-Employment Training (SET) course in 2010 and enrolling in Thrive in 5®, the gallery has grown; creating a variety of new art opportunities for Jen and Phyllis, as well as other local artists, through new art classes and the duo's own art festival, Paint Ventura.

Jen has been selling her work since 2000. Her personal exhibitions include a variety of locations worldwide, as well as several permanent collections across the country. Her work has recently been appointed to the City of Ventura's Public Arts Commission and has been recognized with the Mayor's Arts Awards, as well as the Pacific Coast Business Time's "40 Under 40" Awards. Her work is always on display at Red Brick Gallery, and for a few short months, it will also be gracing the walls of WEV's Ventura office.

Beth Taylor

Displayed in WEV's Santa Barbara Office

Beth Taylor started Taylor Design with the aim of inspiring others with her digital artwork. Graphic design has been a passion of hers for many years because she always finds new, fun and creative techniques to transform her photographs. Her current process takes print images to another level by using photo collaging in Photoshop and Illustrator.

Beth was a graphic designer for a local commercial real estate company but decided it was time to start her own business. Having heard about WEV, she decided to enroll in the Self-Employment Training (SET) course. Fourteen weeks later, she graduated with honors, has already begun selling her vibrant digital prints and will soon be designing her own greeting card line!

Like any artist, her creativity takes several shapes; however, after months of searching for a medium to print her art, she's found the perfect printing process to compliment her work—it's archival, waterproof and scratch-resistant, too! The process involves preserving photos by infusing dyes directly into metal sheets, giving them a magical luminescence. Because the images are infused into the metal surface and not onto it, the archival qualities are unparalleled! Check it out for yourself—visit her at TaylorDesignSB, or stop by WEV's Santa Barbara office to peruse her work! Keep in touch: at the beginning of September, Beth will also have her blog and Facebook pages available to view her new designs!