"I really love to encourage people to love life right where it is. There can be more peaceful moments that way."
-Jazzmyn Benitez
"Trust the process" the saying goes. Yet one Midland, Michigan community member and artist pushes us all a bit farther, encouraging others instead to "trust the journey" and "enjoy the process". With her mantra, "enjoy life", she inspires the Midland community to stop, be present and take joy in the small moments of life.
Jazzmyn Benitez, of Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design, is not only a unique, talented and multifaceted artist, but also a gift to the community around her with her humble, intentional nature. Having a heart to take art deeper than the surface suits her well as part of her life's mission. Benitez is a born encourager, and with what life has thrown at her, her empathy and desire to encourage others in life, as well as art, has naturally grown. She's a well known barista and day manager at Live Oak Coffeehouse as well as an instructor at Parker Lane Design Studio. Benitez is part of a collaboration of artists, at times the lead visionary, of murals that are beginning to pop up around the City of Midland. One of such being the "People Helping People" mural on the side of the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry.
Perhaps one of her most well known works of art in the community is the mural designed for the Midland County Youth Action Council. Benitez was chosen out of several different submissions entered to design a mural which encourages our younger generation to be world changers, givers and community contributors. The colorful and captivating mural can be found on the side of the Circle Auto Parts store on Washington Street near Patrick Road. The mural ended up creating a beautiful occasion in which community members came together to support the artists that worked on the project, and true to form, Benitez and other artists often allowed community members, young and old, to contribute a few strokes as well.
A wonderful example of paralleling art with life, Benitez often takes off her eyeglasses as she begins to paint her artwork as to not get caught up in the details of her painting. She prefers to participate with the paint and really get lost in literally feeling the process as opposed to over analyzing the details at first. This mirrors a lesson she has learned in life and a lesson she hopes to portray to others. Not getting caught in the details, the worries and the boundaries, but rather taking off all that over speculates and drives us to focus too intensely on only a small portion of what is in front of us. The inspiration to function in such a way came after reading the book "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book inspired Benitez to let her creativity truly guide her. Although paint is her primary choice of medium, she often succeeds at any type of art with no boundaries. Visiting her website will show you how truly diverse her art can be as you read the stories behind many of her pieces and see the photos of the work as well.
Although she has many other forms of art such as globes, chandeliers, shoes and wood burning, Benitez claims that she chose painting because it happened to be what fell in her lap. As part of her journey, she ran with it and it soon became a talent, emotional outlet and spiritual tool. In her early adulthood she endured the loss of very dear family members and during this time she rediscovered this healing reason for art. This was the beginning of a spiritual revelation that artwork connected her to God. She claims God is the main reason she continues to paint as He speaks, teaches and guides her in the process.
Many inspirations have lead Benitez to her successful business and artwork. She credits her father John Benitez as a main inspiration, claiming that her father kept art fun. He made many happy memories with his children often making faces out of numbers and letters. There seems to be a large appreciation of how her dad could bring life and joy out of things so simple. Older brother Jonathan Benitez also is artistically gifted, showcasing the ability to draw his own original comic type images and characters. Mom, Juanita Benitez, is a gifted crafter and sewer in ways that always captivated and inspired her daughter. Younger brother Joshua Benitez, besides being gifted at the art of caring about and loving people extremely well, can paint things like pottery and other such objects and bring them to life in beautiful ways. There has been a long line of art on both sides of her family.
Inspired to keep going and growing in her artwork with a fearless attitude, Benitez is not one that is afraid to fail, she knows there are lessons in all things. She gives a large amount of credit to people in her life that push her forward. One such person being Dacia Parker, owner of Parker Lane Design Studio. Dacia has challenged her to be a better artist, to look at things differently and to push herself to create more. Dear friend Renee' Deckrow has helped her redefine "giving grace" and has shown her how to indeed extend grace to others, but to just as importantly extend grace to herself. These two friends have shown Benitez what believing in herself really looks like and how the trials in life reveal her actual strength and worth.
Benitez gives credit to many other friends who have contributed to her success by building into her life and faith. Friend Gessica Garber taught her what it looks like to hear and listen to the Lord. Through time spent together and good conversation, Gessica brought her to a spiritual place she had been longing to be in. Emmy Montgomery was a key person in leading her to the written Word of God. She taught her that God did indeed have a voice in her life and that she was worthy to hear that direction from Him. Star Gust was a constant reminder to her that she was loved by God and that He loved her right where she was in her walk in life. Star was a reminder to her that she was indeed enough for God. Best friend and partner of 7 years, Kate Stuart, encouraged her to be free, spunky and sporadic without caring about the opinions of others. Benitez states that Kate is courageous and hilarious and brings tremendous joy and reassurance to her life.
When asked what she loves about Midland, Benitez stated that she appreciated the easy going nature of Midland compared to the fast paced Orange County that she hails from. She loves that community members are for the most part encouraging and friendly. "Midland has a small town feel, with big town opportunities" she notes.
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| Midland County Emergency Food Pantry |
Perhaps one of her most well known works of art in the community is the mural designed for the Midland County Youth Action Council. Benitez was chosen out of several different submissions entered to design a mural which encourages our younger generation to be world changers, givers and community contributors. The colorful and captivating mural can be found on the side of the Circle Auto Parts store on Washington Street near Patrick Road. The mural ended up creating a beautiful occasion in which community members came together to support the artists that worked on the project, and true to form, Benitez and other artists often allowed community members, young and old, to contribute a few strokes as well.
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| Completed MCYAC Mural |
A wonderful example of paralleling art with life, Benitez often takes off her eyeglasses as she begins to paint her artwork as to not get caught up in the details of her painting. She prefers to participate with the paint and really get lost in literally feeling the process as opposed to over analyzing the details at first. This mirrors a lesson she has learned in life and a lesson she hopes to portray to others. Not getting caught in the details, the worries and the boundaries, but rather taking off all that over speculates and drives us to focus too intensely on only a small portion of what is in front of us. The inspiration to function in such a way came after reading the book "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book inspired Benitez to let her creativity truly guide her. Although paint is her primary choice of medium, she often succeeds at any type of art with no boundaries. Visiting her website will show you how truly diverse her art can be as you read the stories behind many of her pieces and see the photos of the work as well.
Although she has many other forms of art such as globes, chandeliers, shoes and wood burning, Benitez claims that she chose painting because it happened to be what fell in her lap. As part of her journey, she ran with it and it soon became a talent, emotional outlet and spiritual tool. In her early adulthood she endured the loss of very dear family members and during this time she rediscovered this healing reason for art. This was the beginning of a spiritual revelation that artwork connected her to God. She claims God is the main reason she continues to paint as He speaks, teaches and guides her in the process.
Many inspirations have lead Benitez to her successful business and artwork. She credits her father John Benitez as a main inspiration, claiming that her father kept art fun. He made many happy memories with his children often making faces out of numbers and letters. There seems to be a large appreciation of how her dad could bring life and joy out of things so simple. Older brother Jonathan Benitez also is artistically gifted, showcasing the ability to draw his own original comic type images and characters. Mom, Juanita Benitez, is a gifted crafter and sewer in ways that always captivated and inspired her daughter. Younger brother Joshua Benitez, besides being gifted at the art of caring about and loving people extremely well, can paint things like pottery and other such objects and bring them to life in beautiful ways. There has been a long line of art on both sides of her family.
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| First Painted Mural Completed with Brother, Joshua Benitez |
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| Wood Burning by Jazzmyn Benitez |
Inspired to keep going and growing in her artwork with a fearless attitude, Benitez is not one that is afraid to fail, she knows there are lessons in all things. She gives a large amount of credit to people in her life that push her forward. One such person being Dacia Parker, owner of Parker Lane Design Studio. Dacia has challenged her to be a better artist, to look at things differently and to push herself to create more. Dear friend Renee' Deckrow has helped her redefine "giving grace" and has shown her how to indeed extend grace to others, but to just as importantly extend grace to herself. These two friends have shown Benitez what believing in herself really looks like and how the trials in life reveal her actual strength and worth.
Benitez gives credit to many other friends who have contributed to her success by building into her life and faith. Friend Gessica Garber taught her what it looks like to hear and listen to the Lord. Through time spent together and good conversation, Gessica brought her to a spiritual place she had been longing to be in. Emmy Montgomery was a key person in leading her to the written Word of God. She taught her that God did indeed have a voice in her life and that she was worthy to hear that direction from Him. Star Gust was a constant reminder to her that she was loved by God and that He loved her right where she was in her walk in life. Star was a reminder to her that she was indeed enough for God. Best friend and partner of 7 years, Kate Stuart, encouraged her to be free, spunky and sporadic without caring about the opinions of others. Benitez states that Kate is courageous and hilarious and brings tremendous joy and reassurance to her life.
When asked what she loves about Midland, Benitez stated that she appreciated the easy going nature of Midland compared to the fast paced Orange County that she hails from. She loves that community members are for the most part encouraging and friendly. "Midland has a small town feel, with big town opportunities" she notes.
Jazzmyn Benitez is surely a valued treasure in our community. Full of talent, generosity, sincerity, loyalty and intention. Her art can be fun, it can be custom, it can teach, it can carry a message and it can inspire. She pushes us each to change our own atmosphere and be real. With the true heart of an artist, she is indeed another entrepreneur that makes Midland an amazing place to grow, work and live.
To get in touch with Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design for a custom mural at your business, nonprofit or home or any other piece of custom art work, visit her webpage at www.enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com
or email her at enjoylifejzb@gmail.com
"Enjoy life, and what art adds".
-Jazzmyn Benitez
Article By Hope Krotzer
