Penelope Griffin has been a professional Visual Artist, Actress and Writer for over 20 years. Growing up in the Seth Boyden housing projects in Newark, NJ, Ms. Griffin often had to turn to a more creative outlet in order to deter herself from the negative influences around her. However, she will be the first to tell you, she is by no means ashamed of where she came from.
"If there were one thing I would like people to understand about growing up in poverty is that it is both a race and a class struggle, there is no shame in it; it makes you a stronger person, I think."
At the age of 14, Penelope was asked to produce her first paid piece of artwork, a water colour Japanese painting. While she struggled to find out exactly what her niche was, she had the decision of deciding what major she was going to choose. In the end she opted for visual art, but never left her performing talents behind and quickly learned how to incorporate all of her loves in her lifestyle. After being inducted in the National Art Honor Society and graduating Arts High School, she attended Newark School Of Fine and Industrial Art for a brief time on scholarship. Additionally, she has also attended Center for the Media Arts in NYC, NJIT Entrepreneur Program and Gibbs College. During this time she also performed in local theatrical productions and student film and started diving into writing and teaching art to youth.
As a professional artist, Penelope has been able to travel and work on projects and with people from every genre. She has considered it a privilege and a gift to have worked for companies such as Happiness Express Toy Company, DC Comics, Primary Stages Theater, Stand-Up NY Comedy Club just to name a few.
Dedicating most of her time to family over the past 5 years and writing, in 2005 the door re-opened for this multifaceted artist. She has been able to appear in and do extra work for many major films and television projects including "August Rush", "We Own the Night", Law & Order and Nickelodeons -"The Naked Brothers Band ". Additionally, she just recived a principle role as "Deborah" in Favor Productions commercial trailer for a new series "The Narrow Road". This series is cuttently being pitched top cable networks and hopes to be one of new best upcoming cable dramas.
As a writer, Penelope has contributed her skills to PLUG ACTION, a Hip-Hop and music information site as well as food critiques for local businesses.
While she knows the life of an artist and be trying at times, now matter how many times she may need to place a project on the back burner, it is never out of the realm of possibility that the goal can be accomplished.
