The Bay Area’s BOMB Power Moms

There are many sides to Jen Garrido. There are even many names to Jen Garrido. "Jenny Pennywood—she is my alter art ego that is more design/commercial focused. My idea with creating this art persona was that Jenny Pennywood could do more commercial projects with the hopes that it wouldn't affect my fine art path, as I really used to worry about the cross over," explains Jen, who creates fine art paintings under her real name, produces home textiles as Jenny Pennywood, and even heads up a women's and children's fashion line with a friend called SEE SUN. Not to mention her third name: Mom. Her daughter Jemma is 5, and the pair loves to indulge in "girl activities" together, like shopping, getting our nails done, going out to eat. They live in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.

Proud Moment: "I had a really, really hard time in grad school; I was young, didn't know what I wanted and felt so uncomfortable about my painting that I stopped doing it and took up photography. When I got out of grad school I found my way back to painting, which is really where my heart lies, and I have stayed committed to the process and opened myself up to ways in which art path can look and here I am now. I feel like that is a proud period."

Words of Wisdom: I was never meant to be a stay at home. But up until Jemma was about 2, I didn't have much childcare, so there was definitely a halt in my art and business practice, and I generally felt pretty bad about it. So once I was able to diving in work again,  I didn't feel any guilt about it—I didn't feel anything but happiness to be able work my butt off. So I guess my working mom wisdom is that loving what you do and being dedicated to it is a really wonderful thing to model to our kids.