Growing up in rural Tennessee, I spent most of my time in nature,
wandering through woods and fields. At
home I loved helping to care for our family’s chickens, geese, ducks, goats,
pigs, dogs and cats.
I often played under a huge willow tree in our back yard. Perhaps
my first art experience was marveling at the sunlight filtered through
the leaves and the colors dancing before my eyes. I
wrote little poems under that tree.
I knew at a young age that art was my path. I
studyed at various art schools, and took up painting. One of my teachers introduced his students to
anthroposophy and awakened us to sense the living, breathing inwardness and
depth in all true art. To see and
experience life and art spiritually became my path from then on. It eventually led me to Switzerland to study
with master artist, Beppe Assenza. His
school was grounded in anthroposophy, Goethe’s Color theory, Rudolf Steiner’s
color indications and the art of painting.
After 4 years, I came back to the United States near Hudson, New York to lead a
painting training for the next 11 years! However, life
changes led me to Crestone, Colorado, a town filled with a wide spectrum of
spiritual seekers. This year I will give
two Art Retreats: the first is August 11th to 15th and the second is August 25th to August 28th (details are on my website if you're interested).
Finally, I have written a book for artists called An Artist’s Workbook. This book consists of 45 painting exercises
distilled from my many years of experience pursuing and teaching art. The book’s intent is to encourage everyone to try
different approaches in order to stimulate your artistic imagination and
creativity.
Two years
ago, Crestone, Colorado had the most beautiful fall ever. People stopped in ‘awe’ at the glorious
colors on the mountain sides and commented on it’s beauty. For a while I did that too, when suddenly I
realized "why am I merely gazing?
Where are my brushes?" I decided on
a 10-day block of study and ventured into the nearby National Forest to
paint.
It was an amazing journey! I choose a place deep in the forest, a
embankment overlooking the stream. Each
day I would begin by quieting myself:
observing the light changes, color intensities, sounds of the forest and
earthy smells. As my journey progressed,
my attention to subtleties awoke. It was
similar to meditation in that my inner life was finding quiet.
Listening with my whole body, I became an ear
of the forest. A soul connection
happened. My art moved faster with more
consciousness, with pure clarity. To
experience moments when work is flowing is a gift! One piece after another filled my
folder. Each day I would continue work
on the art pieces in my studio, sometimes destroying and other times developing
them further.
I was inspired. The tenth
day in the forest, I looked up and saw the last of the leaves falling. I smelled winter in the air as a cold icy
wind touched my face. I picked up my art
gear and headed home.
I displayed
this work for 10 days in my studio and spent a full day studying it all. The ending of this color journey was a winter
canvas. I had taken dead leaves and
sticks from my perch in the woods. Glued
them on the canvas and painted over them.
No, I didn’t decide on a composition first! Instead the art piece evolved
organically. After the painting was
completed, my inspiration ebbed with this poem:
Blue...the
infinite.
Ice Crystals, Snow, Cold &
deep waters.
Fall has
passed and winter encroaches.
Blue
sky...vast, protecting.
Moon shines
over the mountain peaks, playful like a melody.
Lifeless remains
of summer's plants.
Chirp, Slosh, Sigh,
Swish, Cries of nature.
Earth's deep
silence.
This is Week 10 of 52 Artists in 52 Weeks. Thank you for reading and sharing Jennifer's story today. To connect with Jennifer and see more of her work, please visit the following links:
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