Abstract impressionist Jenn Williamson passionately presents her soulful fine art paintings in a style that captures a feeling, incites thoughts and provokes an experience emulating the concept of pouring her soul out onto the surface. Stratums of plaster, acrylic colour and resin merge in an opportune consequence, inspired by nature and emotions revealing the complexity of hearts and minds!
“I allow the voice of my soul to speak through the artwork. I never have a pre-conceived idea or agenda; instead I allow myself to be led by my imagination, or instinct. It is a challenge for me to trust myself — to believe that who I am deep down can impart value and meaning to my audience. I am humbled and inspired when someone experiences an emotional response to my paintings,” she says.
Like most artists, Williamson has been a lifelong creator, but she only recently discovered her true calling as a painter, about four years ago, inspired by the world around her as well as human nature and the sentiment that her art impels.
Williamson says her creative process is not very glamorous. “For my plaster-based paintings, once I have properly primed my panels, I just dive in and start trowelling on one or more of the plasters, selected from my vast arsenal. At this stage I need to have several hours in order to create the foundation of the painting. If I’m not able to create a base that I feel in harmony with before the plaster sets up, I have to start from scratch.” Williamson, a problem solver by nature, loves this frantic “do-or-die” stage and admits that it is an adrenaline rush to push through to succeed, as well as finding value in the means.
Once she is satisfied with the foundation of a painting, she goes in a variety of directions by either adding more layers of plaster or applying acrylic colour or resins, improvising along the way to create a piece of art that is genuine and unique. This is a true reflection of Williamson as she is committed to growth and development as an artist, vehemently and playfully testifying, “until death do us part”!
Contact her through her website: www.jennwilliamson.com
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In the glass showcases, potter Laurie MacCallum presents her explorations in clay, lightly inspired by lines, colours and textures of the coastal environment.
Bowls, vessels and sculptures exhibit juxtaposing elements: strong graphics using contrasts between light and dark; links between colour; crackled glazed against the smooth; the resolved lines of classical forms with the often unpredictable, dynamic surface finishes.
About her creative process, MacCallum says, “I am intuitive and somewhat random in my approach, but once I am on the wheel, my key focus is creating a beautiful shape and form regardless of the end use.”
She describes this exhibit as a pre-planned collaboration creation between her and Williamson. MacCallum says, “The plaster that Williamson uses and the clay that I use are similar in that they can be endlessly manipulated. For this show I focused on exploring the ways that clay can be etched, eroded, impregnated, layered, burnished, and embossed.”
Not only a seasoned pottery artist, MacCallum divulges that she is wholeheartedly a “maker.” Most of her other passions are related to the Earth — such as growing, harvesting, preparing and serving food. “I love to make vessels for containing the things that nurture us — food, drink and beautiful flowers,” she says.
MacCallum’s future plans are to continue to explore the perpetual possibilities of alternative firing methods and mid-fire oxidation. She imagines that her artistic evolution will never stop because she is so easily inspired and keen to experiment with new techniques and materials.
You can contact her at (250) 539-3765.
The “Surface and Soul II” exhibit runs until Oct. 8 at the Library Foyer Gallery. You are invited to meet the artists at their Opening Reception on Saturday (Sept. 15) from 1 to 3 p.m.
Toby Jaxon is curator of the Library Foyer Gallery. She can be reached at tobyjaxon@shaw.ca
