DPW Spotlight Interview: Jerry Brown

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Jerry's painting "Almost" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

Enter to Win Jerry's Giveaway

From Jerry's DPW Gallery Page: 

My name is Jerry Brown.
 
After 52 years as a traveling showman, I hung up the juggling clubs, extinguished the fire-torches, closeted the ukulele, stuffed the bunny back into the hat, and took up serious water color painting, something that I had dreamed of doing for years, but never had the opportunity.
 
When I started painting in July, 2018, I was simply hoping to paint images that were worth looking at, so that I could paint Christmas gifts for my family, but the minute I took up the brush, it was like déjà vu all over again! The perfect fit: so much so that I have continued to devote 3 to 4 hours per day to exploring this wonderful (and sometimes frustrating) medium, winning numerous awards for excellence over the past four years, and working to master watercolor, one painting at a time.

I hope you find something to treasure.

Almost
(click to view)

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

What did you want to be growing up?

I have always been involved in creative arts: music, theater, and, most recently, visual art.
 
When did your artistic journey begin?  

Like I said, I have always been involved in creative arts. I spent 52 years as a traveling variety entertainer, performing music, magic, juggling, fire-eating, stilt-walking, and working with trained animals, at venues all over the United States. My obsession with watercolor and visual arts started when my showman business got ‘retired’ by Covid-19 and all of my shows got cancelled I had just begun to dabble in watercolor when Covid hit, and I started devoting 3 -4 hours per day in studio, painting.

Lititz Springs Park
(click to view)

 
Did you have any long periods without creative expression? How did you get back on the horse?

Never had a period without creative expression since I was making my living as a professional performing artist, but I had always wanted to do something visual, but never really had the chance while I was busy making a living. Why I decided to take up watercolor at the age of 74, I really don’t know, but, as it turned out, it was a very fortuitous choice. From the minute I picked up a brush, it felt like I had always painted.

Which mediums and genres do you gravitate toward? Which ones don’t appeal?

I chose watercolor for some unknown reason, but I’m awfully glad I did. I am enthralled by the medium and love experimenting with what water and pigment and gravity can do together.

Giverny Pond
(click to view)

What was the process like of pinpointing your personal style or finding your voice?  

I couldn’t tell you. I am still very much in the early stages of exploring, but I am obsessed with watercolor, and devoted to my daily studio time

Name an artist (or artists), well-known or not, who you admire. Why?  

When I decided to take up watercolor, and new absolutely nothing about it, I, of course, turned to my good friend Google and stumbled upon painters who were demonstrating on YouTube, so that’s how I started, with artists like Tim Wilmot, Gary Tucker, Vladislav Yeliseyev, and Joseph Zbukvic: all excellent artists whom I admire greatly.

Incoming
(click to view)

If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger, creative self — what would that be?  

Easy:  Paint!
 
Do you utilize any habits or tricks for winning the distraction and procrastination battle?  

I am so passionate about my work, and thankful, at my age, to have something that gets me up in the morning, I have no difficulty focusing on my work. My studio time is ‘sacred’ to me, and I do my best to make sure that nothing intrudes or keeps me away.

 

Extra Virgin
(click to view)

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you push forward?

When I have a failed painting, and am convinced that I can’t paint, I just remember one of my mentors saying, “It’s only paper.”

What are some of your long and short term goals for yourself or your art?

Long term and short term are identical: Master the medium.

D.C. Escape
(click to view)

What does success mean to you personally?  

Well, I am still pretty much awed by the ‘validation’ of my work when people seek to own my paintings.
 
What is one of your proudest moments in your creative life?

Being invited, at the age of 78, to be featured as an emerging artist at a well known local gallery. (short list, huh?)

Campus Reign
(click to view)

Thanks, Jerry!

© 2022 Maddie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Laurie Leehane

 Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Laurie's painting "Cottage Memories" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

Enter to Win Laurie's Giveaway

From Laurie's DPW Gallery Page: 

I was born in St. John’s Newfoundland. I have lived in places across Canada, finally settling back in my native city, St. John's Newfoundland, in 2002. My passion for drawing streets and houses as a child has carried into my professional career. Collections of my art can be found with the City of St. John’s and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador as well as publication in The Newfoundland Quarterly and “City seen: Artist’s Views of St. John’s”.
I recently moved back to the coastal community of Eastport here in Newfoundland. It has been a big change but I am enjoying beach combing and the quietness of it all.

Statement:

I think of my work as a unique and personal interpretation of the Newfoundland landscape that captures the characteristics and spirit of the land and the people. It is essential in my work for me to have an emotional reaction to a situation or place. My work generally contains a narrative of abandonment, mystery and longing. It isn't what is said that holds my attention but what is NOT said. I aim to create work that deeply touches a viewer’s memory of a moment and to have them connect with the essential feeling I wish to convey in the painting. I believe there is a magical time for everything whether it is the time of day when the light strikes the homesteads and sheds I investigate, or when the landscape is speaking in dreams. Everyone and everything has a moment. I’d like to think I am documenting time and space.

Cottage Memories
(click to view)

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

What did you want to be growing up? 

        When I became a teenager I wanted to be a psychologist and then I wanted to be a writer. I loved creating and as an only child had an imaginative mind.

 

When did your artistic journey begin? 

I entered College at 18 in a commercial art program that lasted three months because I ran out of money. I ended up taking Fine Arts in college in Ontario, Canada at age 22 and that is where my journey really started. After two years there I started University in hopes of being an art therapist. That fell apart as well because of life circumstances. At age 30 or so I met an older woman artist near me who became a sort of mentor and I started filling my days with painting and being part of local shows. When I moved back to Newfoundland I was picked up by a gallery. 

 

Making Plans
(click to view)

Did you have any long periods without creative expression? How did you get back on the horse?

I often lose my mojo and feel very disinterested in working. I live with chronic pain from fibromyalgia and spinal disease so it can be easy for me to lapse into months of having no inspiration or energy. It has gotten harder as I get older. I can’t say how I get back on the horse. It just happens generally to my surprise. I can be in terrible pain and yet some creative spark will ignite and I will push through it to get the job done. Lately I have been very busy working on smalls for my DPW gallery and I feel excited about getting to my studio. I feel blessed when this occurs.

Which mediums and genres do you gravitate toward? Which ones don’t appeal?

I use acrylics for my small works and for the underpainting of my gallery art. I love oils and my large pieces are almost always oil. Streetscapes and coastal depictions are generally my gallery art and my smalls can vary greatly. I love crows and also I have done a vast amount of pet portraits. The last few years I have gravitated to landscapes.

Stacey's Cove Twillingate
(click to view)

What was the process like of pinpointing your personal style or finding your voice? 

Thirty years of painting and I am still learning and developing so I guess that has been the process. Hard work, many fails and tears and wanting to go to bed for a week is how I have developed. I found what identifies my work about fifteen years ago when my gallery took me on. I gravitate to light and shadow and time of day. The drama in the scene. 

Name an artist (or artists), well-known or not, who you admire. Why? 

I always loved Edward Hopper’s paintings and David Blackwood’s lithographs. Hopper’s light always attracted me and Blackwood’s dark and tragic scenes. As I have gotten older there are so many I really admire and find inspiration with. 

Theodore
(click to view)

If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger, creative self — what would that be?

I would have told myself to enjoy the process more. To have fun. 

  

Do you utilize any habits or tricks for winning the distraction and procrastination battle? 

I don’t think I win the distraction and procrastination battle. HA! I have a sign in my studio “Habit is our biggest competitor” I keep that in mind. I spend all of my time in my studio. I may not always produce but I do practice what my mentor friend told me years ago, which is to do at the least an hour every day doing something related to art. I do find walks on the beach helpful for getting me more into the art spirit. 

Stormy Day in Powell's Cove
(click to view)

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you push forward?

I reach out to my family and my artist friends for reassurance at times of doubt. I push forward by being stubborn I guess. To prove to myself I CAN do this. 

What are some of your long and short term goals for yourself or your art? 

My goals are to get my pain under control and produce large bodies of work. I would love to be able to have another show at the gallery with many large pieces. I am always wanting to get better at what I do.

Siblings
(click to view)

What does success mean to you personally?

Success for me is producing work that I really love and am proud of. If someone is moved by my work or better yet, wants to buy it, that is fulfilling.

 

What is one of your proudest moments in your creative life?

It’s hard to say which that is. Winning top prize in the Art’s and Letter’s Awards was special and when the Government procures my work, that always pleases me.

Evening Walk on Freshwater road
(click to view)

Thanks, Laurie!

© 2022 Maddie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Kim Roberti

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Kim's painting "Salsa" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Kim's DPW Gallery Page: 

Painting is my life! I favor figures/portraits as subjects. I have found rich and endlessly interesting ways to express myself. I continue to paint and learn everyday. The fast-pace and ever-changing commercial landscape of e-commerce opened an unexpected source of revenue for me.

Through my page at Dailypaintworks, I have garnered thousands of collectors from many corners of the world. My work is very affordable and can be easily collected through eBay. I continue to hone my craft on a daily basis and you can visit my art on kimsartblog./blogspot.com.

Salsa
(click to view)

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

What did you want to be growing up?

At 72 now I still don’t want to grow up! What does this really mean? Get a job, go to work, get a paycheck… start over again tomorrow. Nope that’s not for me. I’m still a kid!

When did your artistic journey begin?

I didn’t think of becoming an artist until I turned 50. A dear friend lost her battle with cancer, and we were the same age. This affected me in a profound way. I re-examined my life and decided the dead-end job had to go and I found solace in visiting museums, art galleries and street exhibits. I got to know a few artists and decided that I wanted to paint. I didn’t really know if I could live just being an artist, but it was better than what I was doing. Tired of the cold New England weather I moved to Texas where it was warm, and the living was easier. Eventually, I joined a few local art organizations and found my way into this creative world, once again a child. I got to play with all kinds of mediums and discovered different genres of work.

Out Of The Blue
(click to view)

Did you have any long periods without creative expression? How did you get back on the horse?

Not for a long time. I was on fire being a Daily Painters. I put out a large body of work…one to three paintings a day for a decade. When Daily Painters began to lose momentum, I thought I was burned out and even talked of retirement. I just couldn’t do it. I kept my hand in painting and just slowed down a bit. It's easy to get back in the saddle if you never get out!  

Which mediums and genres do you gravitate towards? Which ones don’t appeal?

I love all mediums (remember, still a kid). Oil is my most common go-to because other mediums require a different mind-set, so… it depends on the wishes of the kid. I gravitate towards impressionism but also enjoy portrait, still life and landscape. Not a fan of photo realism.

On The Wild Side
(click to view)

What was the process like of pinpointing your personal style or finding your voice?

I’m still listening for my voice. I really enjoy the process of self-discovery. Trying new things, new ideas, new mediums, new styles… It's all part of the process of becoming a painter. Changing this up keeps the kid from getting bored.

Name an artist(s), well known or not, who you admire. Why?

This is the type of question that begs for a long answer. I have been painting for 22 years and many artists have influenced me along the way at one time or another. I still discover and follow new artists today. Sherrie McGraw and David Laffel for the chiaroscuro present in their work. I was fortunate to work with them in their garden for seven years and I learned how great Modern Masters work (picked up a few things in the process). I love Steve Huston’s brushwork and use of color harmony. There’s a real beauty and strength in Steve’s work. I will be forever influenced by Milt Kobayashi. It is so playful with juicy brushwork and luscious colors. Finally, Kim English for his use of back light in his watercolors. Oops, I must include Stephen Scott Young! Oh, and Dean Mitchell! And then there is Sally Strand for pastel. Last, but not least, Carol Marine (a little brown-nosing here). Carol’s artwork is like candy to me and I really find her work charming. Do I sound like an actor accepting an award here! I warned you it would be long. 

Bella
(click to view)

If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger, creative self – what would that be?

Who says I’m old! I’m still a kid here! Well, I guess it would be to study hard and be patient. There is no magic trick! Learn the principal elements of design; apply them well and be playful. Learn to let go! 

Do you utilize any habits or tricks for winning the distraction and procrastination battle?

The battle is still raging! Daily Painters trained me to work hard every day… small pieces… time to play! You got to let the kid out.

Dream
(click to view)

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you push forward?

I keep trying. Life is full of hardships, and you need to just keep putting one foot forward.

What are some of your long- and short-term goals for yourself or your art?

My short- and long-term goals are the same…getting up every day and painting! Bob (my husband) will take care of the rest!

Onion and Garlic 
(click to view)

What does success mean to you personally?

To live to paint another day.

What is one of your proudest moments in your creative life?

I don’t know if there are any that stand out. I was very proud when I received the Jack Richardson award in pastel. Or, when I was accepted into the Oil Painters of America. Every time I complete a painting, I’m proud indeed.

 Got Milk?  
(click to view)

Thanks, Kim!

© 2022 Maddie Marine