By Jonathan Burger, Craven Arts Council & Gallery, Inc.
Where are you from and how’d you end up in eastern North Carolina?
I’m a midwestern girl – born and raised in Kansas City. The Kansas side, not Missouri. My husband and I moved from KC north for college, then south and eventually east for our careers. Most of my vocational years were in finance and management. With the move to Annapolis, Maryland in 1986, I sought to transition myself into interior design with an emphasis on kitchen and bath design.
Do you have any formal training, or are you self-taught, or a combination?
Mostly self-taught, leaning heavily on the drafting required in kitchen design and the principles of design and color from my interior design experience. I always sewed and crafted, but never really delved into ‘art. Once I moved to New Bern in 2003 to plan and supervise the building our retirement home, I was able to find talented, local artists offering beginner lessons. I took advantage of what I could find here in New Bern. At that time Ed McComber owned Art & Materials on Middle Street which offered art classes and workshops. Kim Fink, Georgia Mason, and the late Carol Gatchel were some of the instructors. I was able to garner a spot in an Ed McComber studio beginner watercolor class which really gave me confidence. I have also taken cold wax classes from Lisa Pressman and a batik watercolor workshop with Ryan Fox. I do take advantage of online classes from international artists as the internet can be a great resource to learn new techniques.
Does your work have a central theme, or several different themes?
I do tend to work in a series. Generally influenced by our travels. My work is often influenced by Asian motifs. And of course, most of my patrons are very familiar with my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog paintings.
You work in a variety of mediums, do you have a favorite, and why (or why not)?
I always say, ‘I can’t decide what I want to be when I grow up, but really, I got such a late start into creating art, I simply like to learn and experience the variety of art mediums out there. And I get bored doing the same thing. I trade off depending on what potential theme I am thinking of doing. I especially enjoy the batik watercolor technique and collage/mixed media, but I am known to go a little bit out of the box, too.
You do both realistic and abstract works, what is your process, and is it the same for either?
I am an intuitive artist. There is generally a vision or purpose to a piece and with that vision comes the medium I feel it must be worked in. As for a process? I am still learning!
Is there another artist who work you admire or inspires you?
Historically, I’m partial to Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. British contemporary mixed media artist Sally Hirst is a particular favorite and I’d love to have the serenity in my work that Georgia Mason of Emerald Isle instills in hers, but I doubt I ever will.
Do you have any advice for artists just starting out or wanting to get into the arts?
Introduce yourself to all the artists in your area. Try to find time to join whatever art groups are available in your area and ‘network’. Try to put yourself and your art out there. It’s scary, and there will be critics, but the support you can build from the community is amazing. Take advantage of any opportunity to educate yourself, participate and promote your art. If you want to create art to support yourself and your family – be prepared to dedicate yourself to your business.
What piece, award, or exhibition are you particularly proud of, and why?
I very proud of those awards I’ve received as they have been totally unexpected. I am particularly proud of ‘Pride, Passion, Priceless” a large batik watercolor diptych I completed for our 50th wedding anniversary. This challenging piece took 8 months of research, design, and implementation. I’ve also been enamored with “Mood Indigo” – a cold wax series that I started several years ago. I am revisiting this work and adding a new section, subtitled “Denim, the Fabric of North Carolina”
In one sentence, what is art to you?
Having spent 50 years of my life without it, art is now a necessary part of my life.
I know you’ll be in the TRAC & CCC Judged Exhibition at Bank of the Arts for April, but where else can people find your work?
I have studio space downtown with 4 amazing artists (Martha Williams, Vicki Vitale, Catherine Thornton, and Donna Slade) at Lace Leaf Art Studios on Pollock St. (507 Pollock St., Suite 3) right next to the Aerie B&B. Currently Lace Leaf is a working studio environment, so we do not have regular gallery hours, except noon-4pm on Mon and Wed. If the light is on or the signs are out, we welcome people to stop in. Just ring the doorbell. I have a small exhibit of mixed media work based on local landmarks in New Bern at Savi’s Wine Store, 713 Pollock St. There is also a small exhibit at The Pointe restaurant in Fairfield Harbour (open to the public) through the end of June. All of my work on display can be purchased through Square using the QR code provided on site or on my website brendajgearartworks.com (or contact me with inquiries at 252.229.4548).