From Jinnie's DPW Gallery:My paintings include watercolor, acrylic, and mixed medium and oil. I paint large representational cityscapes and seascapes just about everyday in watercolor in a style I call Casual Realism. My abstracts are sometimes figurative but mainly non-objective on either paper or canvas. Whatever I paint I truly enjoy the process and hope you enjoy the outcome.
Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.
My mother was an artist who taught a kindergarten class at home and I used to draw alongside her students. We drew cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, holiday items and various other things. Being an artist, my mom used to give my sister and me crayons and the back side of old wallpaper rolls to draw on to keep us busy. And it did! Crayons were always my favorite Christmas present. Both parents promoted creativity, risk taking and dreams. I was very fortunate.
Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?
After high school all painting stopped, I went to college and earned a Master’s degree, entered the work force in a non-art related field. After thirty-five years, I retired. As a retirement gift to myself I took a watercolor class in Bermuda with Bryan Atyeo, a wonderful Canadian artist. At the time I didn’t know anything about watercolor, Bermuda or Bryan but had a great time, learned a lot and was hooked on watercolor.
 |
| Clock Tower Capri III (click to view) Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Jinnie's interview. |
What mediums and genres have you experimented with?
I started with watercolor and was enthralled with the California Watercolor Artists of the thirties and forties. I not only loved the style but also the genre they painted. I bought every book I could find on them and read them from cover to cover, over and over again. I stayed with watercolor as my primary medium until one snowy winter when I had exhausted my photographic subject matter and decided to try abstracts and acrylic.
Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?
Actually they all have “stuck”. I go back and forth with all three, using different subject matter with each medium.
 |
| Soon To Be Cherries (click to view) |
Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?
I’m looking forward to doing large format oils, collage, encaustics and more acrylic... I’m open to trying all mediums and probably a few I don’t know of yet.
Who or what inspires you most?
Most of my inspiration comes from inside, my thoughts, my childhood and my experiences. When I’m stuck I look at art books, Pinterest, and YouTube. Always works for me. There are too many other artists to list who inspire me. Thanks to all!
 |
| A Stroll in Provincetown, MA (click to view) |
What does procrastination look like for you?
I’m fortunate to be able and willing to paint every day. I procrastinate in other areas but not when it comes to art.
What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?
Being single, having supportive friends, free time, adequate funds, health, space and desire, sounds simple but I worked at it!
 |
| Texas Prairie (click to view) |
How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?
With my representational watercolor paintings, the scenes are mainly from European painting holidays both created on-site and from studio photos. With the acrylic abstracts, most don’t start with any planned ideas but rather come along as I paint (sometimes). That makes them a little more challenging and fun for me.
How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?
I try not to paint for anyone but myself. I say try because it is difficult to leave a style that sells, wins awards and is the people’s choice. It is an easy trap to fall into and difficult to stop. I enjoy pushing the envelope with art and am usually anxious to leave my “comfort zone”.
 |
| Seaside Sorrento (click to view) |
What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?
I learn every day. I learn more about myself by painting than from the painting process itself. I’m reminded daily of my need to be challenged to be happy and get bored if things become complacent.
What makes you happiest about your art?
What makes me happiest in life in general is freedom and freedom also makes me happiest in art. I enjoy the freedom to paint what I want to paint, when I want to paint, how I want to paint, what materials to use, who I may paint with and where the painting may end up. Yes, several have been chucked in the fireplace, it’s a great feeling! I also enjoy the wonderful feedback from other artists, customers and the general public.
Thanks, Jinnie!
© 2017 Sophie Marine
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hello! Thank you for reading the interviews of some of the amazing artists from Daily Paintworks! If you'd like to leave a comment on this blog, it will be greatly appreciated. If you don't see your comment show up, we recommend you try a different browser. Unfortunately blogger seems to have an issue processing comments sometimes from certain browsers, especially if you aren't using a google account. This is a problem on bloggers' end and not within our control. The comments on all posts older than 30 days are moderated to prevent spam.