Meet the Artist: An Interview with Jenna Gutierrez

 
 

Meet the Artist: An Interview with Jenna Gutierrez

Each season, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine invites an artist to help bring our theatre season to life through original artwork that captures the imagination of our audiences. For Season 102, we’re thrilled to showcase the vibrant, whimsical designs of illustrator and art educator Jenna Gutierrez. A former CMTM team member and current Boston-based art teacher, Jenna brings a playful, collage-inspired style rooted in her love of childhood cartoons, creative exploration, and arts education.

We caught up with Jenna to learn more about her journey, her creative process, and the inspiration behind her artwork for our 2025–2026 season, Tales of Togetherness.

Poster art by Jenna Gutierrez for the CMTM 2025-2026 theatre season.

CMTM: Jenna, could you tell us a little about yourself and your artwork? 

Jenna Gutierrez

Jenna: My name is Jenna and I am an art teacher and designer currently living in Boston but from Long Island, NY. I studied illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design and graduated in 2022. I have always been drawn to the arts and all things creative. My family encouraged my passions from a young age and would take me to the New York City art museums on the weekends to copy the artwork into my tiny sketchbook. These trips instilled in me a love for creating, but most importantly, a passion for art education. My work is very much inspired by some of my favorite cartoons from my childhood — I like to incorporate a sense of child-like, hand-made whimsy into my pieces.


CMTM: What motivated you to want to create five original designs for the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine's 2025/2026 Theatre Season?

Jenna: A few years ago I was actually an Education Program Associate at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine! I was always so inspired by the artwork the museum displayed from local designers. I knew I wanted to contribute in the future to the collection!


Art for STELLALUNA (January 30 - February 22, 2026) by Jenna Gutierrez.

CMTM: Can you share your creative process and any inspiration/s you had along the way? 

Jenna: I typically do some quick sketches on pencil and paper — this is the quickest way to get my ideas down. Once I have my sketches down and one chosen, I transfer everything over to my iPad or Adobe Photoshop. I typically do my drawing and color blocking on my iPad, then bring the artwork into Photoshop for editing, effects, and (my favorite) drop shadows to make the work look collaged! The drop shadow effect has become a signature part of my process — I was inspired by classic cartoons and stop-motion animation when first exploring this style in college. 



CMTM: What do you hope people take away from seeing your work this season? 

Jenna: I hope people are inspired to tap into their interests from childhood. My work is entirely inspired by everything I loved and everything I did from when I was a kid. I hope people explore all of the excitement they felt from childhood — that is truly what my work is all about. 



Jenna Gutierrez as a child, drawing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

CMTM: What advice or message would you share with young artists?

Jenna: Practice makes perfect! A lot of young artists get frustrated because they are not seeing the progress they want in their creations — I see this a lot in my role as an art teacher. A lot of kids want to fast forward through the learning process and be the best tomorrow.  Keep practicing, keep drawing, and don’t be so hard on yourself. 






CMTM: How can people see more of your work? 

Jenna: You can find me on Instagram @artbyjennagutierrez


BIO

Jenna is so excited to be working with the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine for the upcoming theatre season! Jenna studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she received a B.F.A in illustration.  She found her love for art education in various roles at children’s museums, schools, and non-profit organizations.  She is inspired by the whimsical children’s books she grew up reading and she gets to share with students today.  Jenna is currently working in Boston as an elementary school art teacher, where she gets to share her love for the arts with the next generation each and every day. If you want to see more of her work, you can find it on Instagram at @artbyjennagutierrez.


See Jenna’s artwork in CMTM’s Maddy’s Theatre Promotional Materials through Spring 2026. The next show to feature Jenna’s illustrations is “BABY SHARK”, running June 27 - August 15, 2025.