JENNIFER GRACE ART

BIO

Raised during the post-war years of the1950s and 60s, at Woolwich, between the Paramatta and Lane Cove Rivers, I developed a fascination with patterns. Observing reflection on the water as I paddled around scary big ships and structures, I always felt somehow I shouldn’t be there. At that time the area was industrial and it’s dry dock was used by the army.

In the 70’s I spent some years in Paris, studying history of art, philosophy, literature and language at the Sorbonne and exploring and the art museums at every opportunity. On returning to Australia I attended Sydney College of the Arts at Balmain.

After raising a family in the 80’s, I completed a Bachelor of Fine Art degree at the University of Newcastle in the 90’s, then lived again in France and other countries before settling in the Clarence Valley in 2016. I now live and work at my home-studio, The Art-House in Yamba, N.S.W.

My passion for pattern and motif in nature later expanded to include fractals, manifestations of the Fibonacci sequence and the energy patterns of plants and their healing potential for human physiology and psychology.  This led me to study herbal medicine and homeopathy and to practice in this field for over 40 years. My love and respect for plants and their energy fields continues to underpin my visual language.  

To receive updates from the studio, arrange a visit, give feedback or ask a question please fill in this form.

MY ART PRACTICE

In childhood our innate spiritual wisdom connects us to the natural world. Over time however, our sense of unity of being and wonder at our surroundings becomes dampened by a culture that’s increasingly alienated from it. I believe we need to find a way back to our inner life. Art, music, literature, movement, and nature can be vehicles to take us there. My personal yet universal language of symbolism, allegory, allusion, metaphor and colour might awaken this dormant dream-like state. The rift that’s currently sapping the human spirit needs healing through re-connection to the soul.

My paintings embody an illusory presence. They reference the ethereal world of flowers, birds and the human form. These motifs recur as symbols, alluding to the healing capacity of the inter-connectedness of all life forms, and our sanctioned role as caretakers of our earth.

My muse is my garden, the ocean, the river and the abundance of wild life surrounding me in the Clarence Valley.

PROCESS

My process begins with dry drawing media, such as charcoal, conte, graphite, pastel and coloured pencil on rabbit skin sized linen, canvas or board, using gestural expressive mark-making.

The palette is usually a triad of colours equally spaced on the colour wheel, or split complementary. Rarely do I use pure primary colours.

Water-based media are built up and disrupted through sanding, stamping, layering washes and re-drawing to arrive at a richly layered surface. Compositions emerge from a playful, intuitive and curious attitude that allows the story, emotion or concept to emerge.

The surface is subsequently developed with oil and cold wax, creating depth, opacity and translucency. The finished works hold evidence of excavation and accumulation, mirroring the layered nature of memory and perception as well as the struggle and the joy of it’s creation.

NOTE TO VISITORS

While this website is designed as a platform to offer my artwork and quality giclée prints to collectors, it is also a space for me to engage with an art loving audience in discussion around values and creativity.

To initiate a conversation, arrange a studio visit or give feedback please feel free to send me a message via the contact form.

With warm wishes, Jennifer.