DPW Spotlight Interview: Jessica Green

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Jessica's painting, "Backyard I" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Jessica's DPW Gallery:

I find joy in creating beauitful works of art; it is a refreshing and life-giving process. I love color and visible, vibrant brushstrokes. Thanks for visiting my Daily Paintworks Gallery, it's a joy for me to be a part of this community of artists! :)

My professional background is in art education and I worked full-time as an elementary art teacher (best job ever!) for seven years. I was laid off in 2011 due to budget cuts in my school district. It was hard to leave my students and a job that I loved, but that situation has actually been a blessing in hindsight as I've seen God provide new opportunities for me since that time! (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I went to college to become an art teacher and through that training was exposed to lots of art mediums and processes. After about eight years of being an elementary art teacher, I stopped working full-time to be at home with my two young children. It was around that time that I discovered the daily painting movement. I was attracted to the promise of growing my skills by painting frequently and on small surfaces. In 2013, I started my DPW journey with my goal of painting 500 paintings and also launched my blog which would chronicle my progress and growth along the way.

Backyard I
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Jessica's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Finding time each week to paint is still sometimes a challenge for me. I teach art classes for children throughout the year and run art camps in the summer. I am also starting the adventure of homeschooling my two kids… so finding time to fit all of this in along with painting is tricky for sure. There are a few months of the year where my teaching commitments are less and I try to maximize those times with lots and lots of painting!

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

As an art teacher, I’ve been able to experiment with a variety of art materials. I started off painting with acrylic paints in college and the years following, but then transitioned to oils. I’ve always been drawn to Post Impressionism with its bright colors and brushstrokes. I also love subjects that are easy to relate to such as landscapes and still lifes.

Decisions
(click to view)

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

I like the easy clean-up of acrylics, and I still use them when leading painting classes. However, oils have won me over for the long haul due to their vibrancy, sheen, and ability to blend.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Someday, I’d like to try pastels in plein air and also some abstract encaustic wax work… but I feel like my hands are pretty full at the moment, maybe next decade!

Mark from Above
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

I am inspired by paintings where the artist has a keen understanding of warm/cool colors, can nail values, and has fresh and fun brushwork. Carol Marine was one of the first artists I came across who had this effect on me. Some of my other favorites include: Troy Kilgore, Hollie Storlie, Liz Mullens, and Donna Shortt.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Scheduling set times during each week where my husband or my parents can watch the kiddos so that I can have some quiet space to paint. Also setting goals has really helped. I participated in the ‘30 Paintings in 30 Days’ challenge this past January and that really helped me get a lot done. I was posting each day on my social media outlets, so I had the accountability/pressure not to quit which really helped me push through.

Marina
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I generally use everyday landscapes that I observe everyday while driving around in the car. We live in Indianapolis and are only 15 minutes away from downtown. By driving the opposite direction, we are about 15 minutes to country fields… I enjoy the variety of urban and rural inspiration. I also am drawn to color and shapes from subjects like produce and flowers for my still life pieces.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

Aiming to have most all of my pieces done alla prima (completed all in one session), which helps me not to overwork my paintings.  I also gather a lot of inspiration from artists that I follow on Instagram and they give me ideas on directions I can experiment with in my own style.

Trader's Tulips
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art?

For me, painting is like speaking a language and exercising a muscle. It feels great to exercise a gift that I’ve been given, to translate a beautiful scene or subject with my own voice or style. After I’m done with a painting, it’s satisfying to stand back and see the results; it keeps me coming back for more!

Thanks, Jessica!

© 2016 Sophie Marine