Our Story

Jenna Cook ~ Founder of Happy Canvas LLC

Born in San Francisco, raised in Kailua, Jenna was fascinated with the arts since she was a child. Her work is inspired by her natural environment; from tropical landscapes and ocean life to the wildlife in the San Bernadino Forest. 

Her inspiration to start a business in teaching, however, came from the children living in her small community. Growing up, she did not have access to art lessons, so she self-taught from library books. As an adult, she realized the children in her community were still as limited as she was. So, in 2011, she started teaching her first art students how to paint in her own backyard.

She simultaneously worked at the Honolulu Museum of Art School in the Outreach Program. She started classes at locations like Shriner's Hospital for Children and a family homeless shelter. When Covid shut down her classes with HoMA, she used Happy Canvas Hawaii to continue teaching. She offers classes for students as young as 3 years old, to retirement home paint parties. 

Jenna has recently moved back to her birth home to build up Happy Canvas CA in the San Bernadino Mountains.

Reach out to book your private lesson, paint party or commission artwork. 

Our Instructors

Join the team

Be part of something bigger when you join Happy Canvas. We love creating opportunities for others to share their talents and abilities, and we want to help you do it. If you have a passion for teaching, let us know!