Jennifer Harms: The Artist Behind Brushwork Impressions
For Jennifer Harms, the military has never been just a backdrop—it has been the fabric of her life since birth. Her father, a career Air Force officer and C-130 navigator, began moving the family across the country and around the world early on. Jennifer moved nine times before she graduated high school and embraced the rhythm of change most kids might resist.
“I loved getting to experience new places, new people, new homes, new challenges—all of it,” she reflects.
As she grew older, she began to understand more about what the military was. Her father transitioned into command roles, eventually retiring as Vice Wing Commander at Offutt AFB during her junior year of high school. In those years, Jennifer didn’t just witness military life; she observed leadership in action, especially from her mother.
During the 9/11 attacks, her father served as a Support Group Commander. Jennifer watched her mother move into instinctual protection and preparation: keeping frozen casseroles on hand in case another family needed them, volunteering at schools and churches, proofreading speeches, and serving the military community in every quiet, meaningful way she could.
From Grief to Grace
In 2014, Jennifer experienced a tragedy no military family is ever prepared for: the loss of her active-duty brother. Grief overwhelmed her family, and it was the military spouse community that showed up without asking.
While staying at the TLF (Temporary Living Facility), Jennifer and her parents found their fridge stocked with snacks and homemade dinners, thanks to spouses they never met.
“They didn’t do it for recognition,” she says. “They were led by something greater.”
It was one of the many moments that solidified Jennifer’s belief that military spouses are not just support systems—they are foundational to the strength and resilience of the force. This later tied into her resilience and strength she has found facing one of the most devastating events that comes with military service.
Rooted in Service, Built on Faith
After graduating from the University of Kansas with a business degree, Jennifer became the President and CEO of the Leavenworth Lansing Chamber of Commerce. It was work she deeply loved. Advocating for small businesses, supporting economic development, and even working alongside the Army Base Fort Leavenworth. “Small Business owners were heroes in their own right; always inspiring me with their tenacity, passion and ingenuity in a constantly changing economy.”
But her life would shift again when she met her husband, Sam, at a wedding in Wichita, Kansas. He had just graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and was headed to pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB). Despite her hesitation about long-distance relationships, Jennifer says God had other plans.
The two married in 2015 and began their life together with a move to San Antonio, where Sam trained to fly the F-16. Since then, Sam has transitioned to flying the F-35, while Jennifer has held down the fort through three deployments and multiple TDYS, at times with an 18-month-old and a four-week-old in tow. Jennifer continued her career in economic development, eventually pausing to stay home after the birth of their first child in 2017. It wouldn’t be until 2020 that another part of her identity, really her passion, would take full bloom.
Art with Impact
Jennifer’s art business began simply: hand-painted greeting cards with state-inspired designs. She shares that her mother raised her to understand the importance of emotional gift giving (especially in the military lifestyle). What started as a way to infuse meaning into her own gifts quickly evolved into something much bigger. And from that intention, Brushwork Impressions was born.
She added bookmarks, duty station collections, home portraits, and eventually, custom pet portraits. It was a business designed to move with her, to grow slowly, and fill her cup as a stay-at-home mom. But it wasn’t just about art. It was about intention.
That became clear in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. Like many military spouses, Jennifer was shaken. A conversation with a friend about the innocence of American childhood amidst global conflict led to a painting of a mother holding back the night sky so her child could focus on the flowers in front of them.
The piece was shared hundreds of times. Jennifer sold the original and prints, donating all proceeds to Save the Children. She’s since raised funds for nearly a dozen organizations through her work.
“I fully believe when you lead with generosity in your life, things will always make their way back to you,” she says.
She’s now illustrating a children’s book written by fellow military spouse and Army veteran Sarah Doran—a project that feels like a full-circle moment. In their first meeting, they discovered they shared roots in Lansing, Kansas, where Jennifer had held her first job years before.
The Quiet Backbone of the Force
Jennifer doesn’t romanticize the challenges of military life. She knows them intimately. But she also knows the incredible power of the people who choose to serve quietly alongside their spouses. She experienced that power firsthand after losing her brother, when spouses she had never met showed up with food, comfort, and care. That moment of grace wasn’t a one-time gesture; it became a lifelong reminder.
“The spouses who raise their hand and say, ‘I will help’—they are not only the key to resilience for other military spouses but the key to our military’s resilience as a whole.”
For her family, resilience also looks like knowing when to lean in. They take advantage of the quiet times: dinners together, family trips, and intentional presence. Because they know the chaos will return. The TDYs. The deployments. The uncertainty.
So they make the most of the moments in between.
Jennifer Harms reminds us that military life is more than sacrifice—it’s layered with love, creativity, and a community that shows up without needing to be asked. Whether she’s raising her family, creating art that moves people, or standing shoulder to shoulder with other spouses, Jennifer shows us the strength in staying rooted, even when everything around you is in motion.
To learn more about Jennifer and Brushwork Impressions, use the links below:
