Photo by Cindy Votruba Artwork by Jammie Niemeyer is on display through July 10 at the Marshall Area Fine Arts Council's gallery.

MARSHALL — Jammie Niemeyer said she’s been creating art for as long as she can remember — ever since she could pick up a pencil.

“I have always loved to draw, doodle, and paint so much that, when I was in school, I would sometimes get in trouble with teachers for doodling on everything around me,” Niemeyer said. “Art has always been a natural part of who I am.”

Niemeyer’s exhibit “The Sides of Jammie Lynn” is on display through July 10 at the Marshall Area Fine Arts Council’s gallery at Marshall City Hall. A reception will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 18.

What Niemeyer enjoys most about creating art is the entire creative process: coming up with ideas, watching them develop, and being able to make adjustments and changes as she goes.

“I love the freedom that art gives me to express myself and share my imagination with others. I truly believe we were all put here to create and share our talents in different ways,” she said.

Niemeyer works in many different mediums because she loves learning and trying new things. Her work includes wood burning, drawing, painting, resin art, copper sculpture, chainsaw art, doodling, clothing design, interior design, and mural work. One of her murals, a butterfly mural, is located on the Riverwalk in Granite Falls

One of the artworks on display at MAFAC is “The Lake Goddess,” which is a 6X6 multimedia piece that combines woodworking, resin, painting, sculpting and a copper tree sculpture.

“She represents an embodiment of myself and my artistic journey. The tiger’s eye stone placed in her throat chakra symbolizes me finding my artistic voice,” Niemeyer said. “The piece is made with driftwood that I personally collected and arranged, along with resin designed to resemble water, and it also features a copper tree sculpture.”

Niemeyer created a woodburn heart to help raise money for a 1-year-old boy named Beckham Trygestad, who was born with a congenital heart defect and has had numerous surgeries. He is the son of Charlynn and Grant Trygstad. Niemeyer said Charlynn is a friend of her daughter’s and has known her for years.

“So what I am doing is utilizing my artwork not only to bring awareness to congenital heart defects, but to hopefully make some money to give to them to make a little dent in their bills,” Niemeyer said in her artist statement.

“I chose to create this piece for the fundraiser because, while I may not have had the financial means to contribute in other ways, I strongly believe that we give through the talents we are blessed with. Creating art is how I give back and show support,” she added. “The piece itself was created through wood burning, and I added red rhinestones to give it more depth and emotion. I wanted the artwork to showcase heart, compassion, and connection.” The piece has a starting bid of $300, and the bidding will go through July 10. People can bid at the MAFAC gallery or online.

Niemeyer also turns thrifted boots into designer wearable art. Some of her recent pieces draw inspiration from the styles of Vincent Van Gogh, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. In addition, she has several leather-burned jackets on display that highlight her wood-burning techniques on wearable art.

“A big part of my creative process involves repurposing and giving new life to old materials. Many of the jackets and boots I work on come from thrift stores because I believe it is important to utilize the resources we already have and transform them into something meaningful and beautiful again,” she said.

Niemeyer is also showcasing her Skeletal Dancer series and her Skeletal Lovers series.

“My skeletal designs carry a similar message. I want people to view the skeleton differently — not as something negative or associated only with death, but as a reminder that beneath race, religion, politics, and labels, we are all the same at our core. My work encourages people to look deeper and recognize the beauty within,” she said.

At the heart of everything she creates is the desire to make people think, feel, and look deeper, Niemeyer said.

“My art is about healing, connection, perspective, and finding beauty in places people may not normally stop to see,” she said. “Whether it is through sculpture, wearable art, murals, or mixed media pieces, I want my work to start conversations and remind people of the humanity we all share.”