MY STORY

I began my love of Rosemaling in June of 1980 in Montana. My mom, the daughter of Norwegian emigrants, invited me to take a class with her. This began my introduction to this beautiful Folk Art of Norway. Later that summer I was married and in blending the two parts of my life, my signature combines my maiden name, Jenni, and my married name, Meshnik.

I continued to take classes whenever I could. That plus many hours with brush in hand saw my skills begin to develop. We started our family in 1984. I was able to keep painting after our first child was born, but when twins arrived, and then a fourth child, the brushes (and perhaps much of my sanity!) were shelved.

We moved to Eugene, Oregon when the kids were very small. I picked up my brushes again in 2006 when all but one was off to college. I continue to paint and often wish I could have shown my Norwegian Grandparents my accomplishments. I attend Scandinavian fairs with my work and though my rosemaled pieces populate my display, my favorite “piece” is the photo of my Grandma Rolfsness in her bunad, taken in Norway before she emigrated in 1904.

While visiting family in Norway, I was given the beaded breast piece. I used it to make my bunad as much like my grandma's photo as I possibly could.

Ragnahild Rofsness is photographed wearing her Bunad before leaving Norway

OS ROSEMALING

(Os is with a long "o" like dose)

TELEMARK ROSEMALING

MORE ABOUT ROSEMALING STYLES

Rosemaling, (translated Rose Painting) developed and flourished in rural Norway. Local painters adopted the scroll and flower motifs into their own styles and were influenced by the resources and culture of their remote area. Examples of the styles that I have had the privilege to study over the years show both differences and similarities in their use of design and color. Within my gallery you will find the photos labeled to define the style of Rosemaling.

Patti Jo Jenni Meshnik

VALDRES ROSEMALING

HALLINGDAL ROSEMALING

ROGALAND ROSEMALING

TRØNDELAG ROSEMALING