I loved art since I can remember. As a child, I loved to draw and started practicing calligraphy at 9 years old. I studied Fine Art (drawing, painting and sculpture) for three years in college and studied Graphic Design and Photography for two additional years. I graduated from State University of New York at Purchase College with a BFA in 1996.

I worked for as a Graphic Designer/Junior Art Director at Atlantic Records in Manhattan from 1996 - 1999. I started off designing ads, cassettes and promotional singles ~  and over the years moved into designing cd packaging and managing and art directing photo-shoots. In 2000, I worked for Red Herring Design as a Senior Art Director also designing cd packaging and art directing and managing photo-shoots.

In 2001, I made a big decision to go freelance in order to take a year long yoga teacher training course and explore experiences one can not have while working a full-time job. I went to burningman numerous times. I moved to California. I lived at retreat centers. I became a full time volunteer for 6 months at Martin Deporres House of Hospitality in the Mission of San Francisco. I cooked for Food Not Bombs. I painted murals. I sat and served on Vippassana meditation retreats. I was a caretaker and yoga facilitator for a 19 year old wonder with Cerebral Palsy in Santa Monica.

And on New Year’s Eve of 2010, I became a mom. I closed my last chapter of exploration and my new focus became my baby and building a home-based online art and design business. In 2014, I joined Marie Forleo’s B-School and have been studying business and marketing, and evolving my business ever since.

Besides Jen Barbato Design, I run Jen Barbato’s Vegan Kitchen, a website advocating for a vegan lifestyle. And, I work for the Living Light Culinary Institute, as their operations assistant for their Inns! And when I’m not working, I’m playing with the two loves of my life, my daughter Eve and my cat Mittens.