By Jonathan Burger, Craven Arts Council & Gallery, Inc.
Where are you from and how did you end up in New Bern?
I’m a native New Englander. While visiting Boone, my husband & I fell in love with the mountains. We move there but after awhile wanted to be closer to family in New Bern. Plus living my whole life on the coast I missed it. New Bern is alive with art & wonderful people, it’s a great place to live.
Are you self-taught, or did you receive formal training in art?
Growing up I was always drawing, mostly horses. I was involved with horses then went to college & didn’t pursue art. Years later, I started watching Bob Ross on tv & wishing I could paint like him. I saw an ad for adult continuing ed art classes. I showed up for class with oil paints only to find out it was a watercolor class, lol. I became good friends with my art teacher, Vertene Carter. She was a fantastic watercolorist. She became my mentor & helped me rediscover my love of art. She gave me my love of color in artwork. Living on the Maine coast we spent many days doing Plein Air painting. There I also became friends with world-renown sculptor Joseph Query & took life-drawing classes from him. In North Carolina, I studied with artist Linda Hastings, and have taken workshops with Tony Couch, Ed Macomber, Sue Russell, Karl Farber, and Dani Janovich. As an artist, you’re always learning & discovering more about art.
Is there a central theme to your work, or several themes?
God has blessed us with the most beautiful place to live. My inspiration comes from His creations & painting is a way to capture that beauty. I like painting anything with movement & color – animals, flowers, coastal, realism to abstract. I tend to gravitate towards horses. I have a degree in Equine studies so I know the conformation of horses really well & it helps in my work. Usually something will catch my eye, I’ll get an idea & then run with it. I want the finished painting to inspire and captivate you.
You have done a number of pieces in alcohol ink, can you tell us a little about the medium and how you got started in it?
I discovered alcohol ink when I worked at an art store. It’s used by crafters usually by stamping it on notecard paper. On tile, the ink doesn’t absorb in right away so the colors blend & make cool textures. I thought it would be great if I could make it large scale. I couldn’t use canvas or paper because it immediately soaks in. I needed a non porous surface. Yupo paper was the solution. The bright colors blend & repel at the same time. It has the flow of watercolor but with no control. I don’t use a brush but instead pour the ink on & move the yupo to manipulate the inks before they dry. You never know how your painting will come out, it’s exciting to see what develops!
What other mediums do you work in?
In addition to alcohol inks, I enjoy several mediums – watercolor, Chinese brush painting, pastel, pen & ink, mixed medium and acrylic. But watercolor will always be my favorite. I tend to use mostly primary colors, blending the paint directly on the paper to get a variety of color. I like to paint loose, showing movement and flow. I allow the flow of the paint to help guide me. I may have the finished painting done in my mind but a painting has a mind of it’s own. I let it takeover & see what develops. My art is constantly changing. I like to explore and experiment. I feel as an artist you can’t get too comfortable, you need to constantly push out of your comfort zone. It makes you grow as an artist.
Is there an artist in your field or any other whose work inspires you or you admire?
That’s a loaded question, they are so many artists I admire! As a kid, artist & writer Sam Savitt inspired me to draw. I love the works of Chris Cummings, Jeanne Carbonetti & Charles Reid. I was honored that Charles Reid was the judge when I won an award in the NC watercolor society show. But I have to say that I admire my artist friends the most. I see their work & it’s amazing!
What specific award, exhibition, or piece are you particularly proud of, and why?
Yes, “Koi Pond” is a painting that I painted for the new CarolinaEast Cancer Center. The cancer center used to be at another location. My husband would get treatments there. The treatment room overlooked the most beautiful & serene koi pond. During a rough time in people’s lives getting chemo, this koi pond was the one beautiful thing. It brought them joy & hope. The new location doesn’t have a koi pond. So I wanted to bring a little remembrance of that pond for the patients. I painted that koi pond with love!
In one sentence, what is at to you?
Art is my expression, my soul, my feelings put onto a canvas. It can bring many emotions but for me I want it to bring happiness, forget anything negative & just be happy.
Do you have any advice for artists starting out or people who want to get into the arts?
Just start, pick up a pencil or a brush & let your creative side take over. Don’t think, just relax & follow your eye. Draw or paint what you see not what you think is correct. Don’t let anything hold you back. Don’t think what if my art isn’t good enough. Art is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone looks at the same piece of art differently. Go to your local art hub, talk to artists, ask questions. Get involved, take classes or donate your time. Just don’t give up.
You work will be all over town this month as the logo for Mumfest, but where else can people find your work?
You can find my art at The Community Artists Gallery & Studios @ 309 Middle St. I’ll be one of the Featured Artists in October along with Eileen Wroe & Patty Smithwick. I’m also the gallery manager there. In addition, I have artwork at Sara’s Big Apple Italian Restaurant at 1150 Broad Creek Rd.
317 Middle Street | New Bern, NC | www.cravenarts.org | 252.638.2577