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ASHLAND -- If Jennifer Cremeans looks at you weird, well, it's because she's probably already drawing a funny picture of your face in her mind.

The talented 25-year-old Barboursville resident is one of the few caricature artists out drawing regularly in the Tri-State.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh graduate is the Artist of the Month for May at Pendleton Art Center, 1537-1539 Winchester Ave., Ashland.

Cremeans, who focused on animation in college, said she came by her love of caricature art accidentally.

"I took a workshop from Angela Love and started playing around with the idea of caricatures," Cremeans said. "When I moved back, I decided to take it seriously."

Today, she'll be out at Pendleton from 5 to 9 p.m. during the music-filled First Friday Art Walk, while she also will be at Second Look Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. and she's also doing a Comic Book Expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at the Elks Lodge on Carter Avenue in Ashland.

Cremeans, who goes by J.Bird, said she loves that fresh art and interaction that's part of caricature drawing.

"It is kind of unexpected around here," Cremeans said. "You expect it in Myrtle Beach and King's Island, but you don't expect to be able to go somewhere around here and have it done."

Cost is $5 for a black and white marker caricature and $25 for a caricature with color.

Cremeans, who is also a photographer and painter, said it's been wonderful to be part of Pendleton, which is home to the studios of 38 artists and craftsmen and The Left Bank Cafe, which has live music during First Fridays and an open mic night each Thursday.

"I think it's a step up from working out of your home because you can't always sell from the house," Cremeans said. "Joining an art center is a great opportunity. A lot of us artists look after each other. They'll recommend me and so it's great networking."

Cremeans has also been passing on her craft as she's been teaching children's art workshops.

She'll oversee a Mother's Day workshop May 10 for children ages six and up to create gifts to give to mom for Mother's Day.

For more info about Cremeans work, go online at www.jbirdistheword.com and for Pendleton info, go online at www.firstfridaynews.com.

Photo courtesy of www.jbirdistheword.com

Caricature by Jennifer Cremeans

Photo courtesy of www.jbirdistheword.com

Caricature by Jennifer Cremeans