Jane's Fine Art - Meanderings on my art

I create for beauty. I believe our world is often too intellectual. Its like (supposed) intelligence and intellectualism have taken over and wisdom has been forgotten. There is a current trend (or maybe its already over and “old hat”, I wouldn’t know) for conceptual art, art that expects you to think to appreciate it. Mine does not. Personally I don't believe in following trends, I believe in following instinct and what your heart desires. I am self taught and thus have avoided some of the pressure to create in a certain way.

I believe we are instinctually drawn to beauty, and we can rest in it, bathe in it. So beauty drives me, I aim to create beauty. I believe true beauty (like looking into a sunset) nurtures our soul, gives us that internal “ahh” moment, which is precious in a society that places so much emphasis on busy-ness of the mind and body.

I am trying to get my work to retain a fresh rawness, a really beautiful stage that many artists (myself included) work over and its gone forever. I think one of the most difficult parts of creating good artwork is knowing when to stop. I am sure this has been said many times before.

I try to let the medium and the physical laws of nature (? driven by some other power ?) take over and add their story in my work. My abstract work requires a meditative state, in order to let my judging, fearful mind behind and let the moment and the materials take over. Its play.

In contrast my “work” is my portrait work, mostly beach portraits currently. I spend an hour with the family on the beach, taking a few hundred CANDID photos of their children at play on the beach. I take the best of these photos and I base the painting (oil on linen or pastel on board) on these. This concept works really well, the children play, I capture their beauty. I am looking forward to extending this concept to other settings, eg in the garden at play, in the pool etc. I will be available to travel and stay in people’s homes in order to capture their children in their own home.

I have recently been inspired by the TV programme Star Portraits and hope to get into more drawing and painting from life.

I started selling my work at the Eumundi Markets 4 years ago. This, as planned, has been my apprenticeship. The beginning of my art career. I worked hard for little money but have gathered the confidence to know that I can hold my own art business. I am generally booked out for 4-5 months ahead in my commission work, mostly portaits and some abstracts. My prices are now more realistic and I am hoping to jump over that so-called poverty line some year soon. I feel rich because I am free and have a beautiful lifestyle.

Some of my favourite artists are Whitely, Olsen, Blackman, Klimt, Schiele, Modigliani, Dali, Magritte, Brancusi, Michelangelo, Beaugureau, Matisse, Degas.