Jacqueline Kent

As a young child growing up in London, England, artist Jacqueline Kent had no idea she would be granted a gift that was to change her life and touch the hearts of everyone in it. At an early age having immigrated to Canada with her family, she settled comfortably into her new surroundings.

Jacqueline thrived in school and as she grew older it was easy to see that she was a natural-born entrepreneur. She missed not a single chance to explore every opportunity that came her way, always reaching for the sky.

Establishing a successful greeting card business with her husband, they prospered for several years. During the Canadian recession in the early 90's, business began to rapidly decline and almost overnight, they were hurtled into bankruptcy. Years of hard work were wiped out. Her despair deepened as she tearfully dismissed her staff, many of them life-long friends. With bills to pay, little money and fewer resources, she desperately searched for a thread of inspiration. A friend, anxious to help out, was able to provide her with a few small jobs, working with clay.

Working day and night, she managed to earn a small living. One evening in particular, while working at home and with her young son at her side, she felt overwhelmed by stress and exhaustion. She had become frustrated with her young son's persistence to make him a face out of clay. In an effort to continue her work, while pacifying her son, she set her work aside. Feeling rushed, she began to rough out a face, when something happened.

In disbelief she watched the clay transform in her hands, as though she somehow knew exactly what to do. While the face began to take shape, the eyes became alive. A nose emerged next, perching itself above full lips and a soft smile. Laugh lines, cheekbones and a dimpled chin complimented a strong jaw line which made its way towards two perfect ears.

Her work now long-forgotten, was pushed aside as she scrambled for more clay and feverishly started a new face. Her stress and fatigue had vanished and she worked long into the night, afraid that if she stopped, the magic would be gone by morning. Her hands, no longer her own, attempted a foot . two feet - surely a hand would be impossible. But then, as if she were magic, she sculptured a perfect hand - a tiny replica of her very own. She worked long into the night until dawn arrived and, as though intoxicated, she became aware of a deep sense of exhilaration, unlike any other she'd felt before. As she worked the clay, each new face became better than the one before it and she knew that at all costs, this spell could not be broken!

In those next few weeks, her life became a whirlwind of activity as she worked the clay with speed and agility. Together with a network of support and with belief in her new-found talent, her work was promoted throughout the art world. In a very short time, growing demands from art galleries across Canada and the U.S.A., escalated.

Establishing herself as a one-of-a-kind artist over the next 10 years, she felt blessed to be doing the work that she loved. Collectors from all over grew rapidly and, before long, she simply couldn't sculpture fast enough. Renowned for her Santa's and Father Christmas's, they were uniquely authentic, inheriting their own character, disposition and personality. The debut of her Fairy Godmothers literally sent her collector's into a frenzy. Her whimsical little ladies with sparkling eyes and gentle face, proudly displaying feathered wings and magic wands, were a hit. Yet the faster she worked, the more they were sought after. As an artist, her warmth and humour began to create a niche for her within the collectible market and gift industry. Featured as a guest artist for special events, audiences became captivated by her agility, speed and ultimately, her true to life work.

Although her discovery happened overnight, her 14 years of hard work and long hours mirror her dedication and commitment to her creations. Today, working out of her studio in London, Ontario, her time is taken up with designs destined for reproduction. Jacqueline herself is forever a "work in progress" and, sitting on her desk, perched on a shelf, or just plain scattered about, waiting for completion, are tiny headless bodies, hands and feet, unpainted boots, costumes, magic wands, jewelry, baskets, frilly bonnets, top hats, angel wings and, you name it. Her creative mind works a mile a minute and she is constantly one step ahead of herself, excited to start new creations, even while she has one in hand.

After several years, unable to keep up with the demands for her originals, she began exploring the reproduction market. Her unique talent, coupled with experience and knowledge in the industry, now led the way for her next big step and, eventually her reproductions became available in stores across Canada and the U.S.A. Today she continues to create beautiful designs for Kurt S. Adler Inc.

Looking back, she's convinced that nothing happens by accident. She never forgets that fateful night, fourteen years ago, when she somehow knew, that the few small smiles she sculptured, would cause many big smiles in life. For truly, she believes in miracles and feels blessed at the happiness her gift has brought to herself and to others. And, today, through her reproductions, she can spread some of that joy to more people than she ever thought possible.