Too Tall for the Garden: Artist Jlyn Henderson on Bravery, Reinvention & Trusting Your Creative Voice

In this powerful and soulful episode of Fanatical DreamHer, host April Kemp sits down with artist Jlyn Henderson, whose striking portraits of women—long necks, wild hair, forward-facing eyes—captivate viewers with their emotion, mystery, and truth.

Jlyn didn’t pursue art professionally until retirement, when she finally chose to “be brave” and step fully into her creative identity. Her work is deeply symbolic: women who look forward, shoulder life’s weight, hold secrets behind their eyes, and unapologetically take up space. Through stories of her first art shows, reinvention through health challenges, and the mantra “too tall for the garden,” Jlyn encourages women to trust themselves, honor who they are, and create boldly without asking Susie’s opinion.

This conversation is a masterclass in authenticity—for artists, dreamers, and anyone learning to listen to their own voice.

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Key Discussion Points (with time stamps):

• (02:00) The symbolism behind her women: long necks, wild hair, one eye forward, broad shoulders
• (02:33) Realizing her dream only after retirement—choosing bravery
• (03:18) Sketching faces since childhood but never expressing her true artistic voice
• (03:50) Why she created women who hold “secret memories and thoughts”
• (04:46) Her first art show—being accepted, selling many pieces, and gaining confidence
• (05:46) The next year: appearing on the show poster but selling nothing
• (06:41) The iconic mantra: “You’re just too tall for the garden.”
• (07:26) Reinventing herself after health challenges
• (08:04) How pursuing art helped her stay strong, brave, and forward-moving
• (08:34) The joy of knowing her art touches hearts—purchased or not
• (09:19) The importance of believing in yourself and staying focused
• (09:30) Evolving as an artist while staying true to what you love
• (10:03) Her biggest motivator: her son telling her to “keep going, Mom”
• (10:21) Why she won’t let a painting leave the studio until it “has the right look in her eye”
• (11:10) Persistence as the turning point in her journey
• (11:25) Overcoming challenges—finding purpose even in setbacks
• (12:07) Selling two pieces after being placed in a nautical gallery—knowing what fits and what doesn’t
• (12:44) Reinforcing the business mindset while staying true to her voice
• (14:05) Lessons from mentors: don’t give up, keep evolving
• (14:33) Her current challenge: painting commissioned portraits in her own style
• (16:19) Why art must be personal—“Susie doesn’t live here.”
• (17:14) Women’s tendency to seek outside validation and why self-trust matters
• (18:05) Letting herself be different—even in structured classes
• (19:32) The people who supported her most: family and a best friend turned collector
• (20:00) Advice to young artists: follow your heart and your own style
• (20:40) The importance of thinking outside the box
• (21:22) Why she posts selectively on Instagram—choosing quality over quantity

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Notable Quotes:

• “You’re just too tall for the garden.”
• “One day you’ve got to look in the mirror and say, ‘I can do this.’”
• “They have secret memories, secret thoughts—stories I don’t tell.”
• “If this is what you love painting, then continue painting it.”
• “Susie doesn’t live here.”
• “There’s always a positive that comes out of a negative—you just have to look for it.”
• “Trust yourself. I have to be me.”
• “It doesn’t matter if someone buys it—what matters is that it touched their heart.”
• “Don’t give up. Keep going.”

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Takeaways:

• Bravery is a choice, and sometimes the dream doesn’t begin until you finally say “yes” to yourself.
• Authentic art—and authentic living—comes from trusting your inner voice, not outside opinions.
• Reinvention is not only possible; it’s powerful.
• Self-talk shapes resilience. “Too tall for the garden” is a reminder that sometimes you simply don’t fit the place you’re in—and that’s okay.
• True artistic evolution happens through persistence, not perfection.
• Creativity is personal—your work is for you first.
• Community support, even a single encourager, can make all the difference in a dreamer’s journey.

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Connect with Guest:

• Instagram: @jylnhenderson
• See her work locally at Redfish Gallery, Irvington, VA

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Connect with Us:

• Follow April on Instagram: @fanaticaldreamher
• Stay updated on new episodes: https://www.fanaticaldreamher.com/
• Email April: [e-mail]

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