About Us
Seaside Selkie Studio was started by me, Jennifer Hoffmann. I went to Everett Community College where I had my first “real” art classes that I took for electives. Once I took my first class, I was bitten by the art bug and it’s been a great ride ever since. I first decided I wanted to get my degree in Fine Art, when my mentor talked to me about what I could do with that degree. At the time, I wasn’t planning on showing my art pieces, I just knew I loved making art. She pointed me into the direction of Graphic Design to open my horizons. It turns out I loved that, too. I loved how I could mesh my love of art-the colors, the planning needed, and using technology. Working in Graphic Design has also showed me my love for technology. I was shocked, because growing up, I really didn’t care for the latest gadgets. I let my dad handle stuff, and wasn’t too interested. I know am the family troubleshooter. I then decided to further my degree, and finished my degree at Utah State University. I wanted a new adventure, so went somewhere I’d never been to, but it turns out to have been one of the best decisions Ive made. It pushed me A LOT, introduced me to lots of people who where very different from me, and made me depend on only myself. It was…a lot.
My mom’s family has so many artists. I grew up with my mom using our coloring books and Disney storybooks to draw from. She even made us a mural in the bathroom! My family loves to try different arts and crafts, and it’s always been a privilege picking their brains, and getting to witness what they’ve created. The other half of the family are mostly teachers. I loved this too, because I got the direction, and the push to use my right AND left brain. I feel totally blessed. My dad’s family also gave me a lot to work with. There is an artist, and tactile crafters. Through them, I learned to trust my hands, to experiment with how things fit together, so I wasn't afraid to try. Because of this, there will be more than paintings.
Now to the STAR of Seaside Selkie Studio: Crixus. He is a full-blooded Manx, but he was born with his tail. I was entrusted to his care because his first guardian was moving in with her allergic boyfriend. What started as a weekend babysitting thing, turned into true love. Sadly, in his very short life, Crixie was abused by the person who owned his mom, because he was born with a tail. His siblings were all tail-less, and the breeder thought Crixie was inferior because he has his tail; she would take him away from his mom, so his siblings could get food first. Crixie’s first guardian saved him from the breeder, and taught him how he SHOULD be treated. As a family, we have striven to spoil Crixus as much as absolutely possible. Being mean is never acceptable.
As of this writing, he is eight years old, and really keeps everything on track. He tells us when it’s dinner time, where he gets his favorite wet food. He will not stand for anyone being a minute late. He’s also a great morale-booster. He makes sure the midnight oil isn’t too spent. If I’ve been working too long, and he thinks I need to go to bed, he’ll sit on my paintings, drawings, laptop. To know if it’s an original of ours, it HAS to (probably)have cat hair under the paint. I’m just waiting for the day where he leaves some kind of mark on stuff.