Jennifer Drake

Two years before entering art school, Salvador Dali wrote in his journal: “I’ll be a genius… Perhaps I’ll be despised and misunderstood, but I’ll be a genius, a great genius.”  In this way, Dali and I are similar – we both like writing in journals.After growing up in Coeur d’Alene, I lived in Scotland, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. In my work and travels in these places and others, I met many incredible people and I still carry their stories and spirits along with my own. My passions include the history of the British pub, space travel, and medieval methods of torture. Some of these you can see reflected in my art.I am a self-taught artist, which means that I get to choose my own projects but still don’t really know what I’m doing. For many years, my focus was graphite drawings. After living in a world of black and white and grey for so long, I decided to start adding color. Most of my pieces are done while being climbed on, clung to, and/or pestered for snacks by my three children. Their chaos has a place in the creation of my art as well.Jennifer Drake is the owner of The Crown & Thistle, a traditional British-style pub in the heart of downtown Coeur d’Alene.  She grew up here and attended the University of Idaho and the University of St Andrews in Scotland.  After living and working in Los Angeles and Washington DC, she returned to Idaho to work as Media Director for Pita Pit USA.  She is also the Chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission and President of the Board of Emerge.  Jennifer is currently raising three children with her husband Benjamin.  In her spare time, she is an artist and remains active in the community.