Hunter Kirkland Contemporary

Hunter Kirkland Contemporary is pleased to present Jennifer J.L. Jones' exciting new work. Jones approaches her painting as an ongoing search for meaning and coherence in a beautiful but mysterious world. Her exquisitely crafted luminous surfaces serve as a kind of mirror that reflects an internal radiance that is hinted at but never actually seen.

The artist's technique of glazing thin layers of different kinds of paint and tar, then sanding them to produce a highly polished finish, has evolved along with her emotional expression. In this series she starts with a background of latex paint that she throws onto the panel as a way to open herself up, then paints on wax paper and presses it against the board to create blocks of color and pattern.

"I studied some of my earlier paintings and started to see the beauty in fragments of the whole, such that one little corner of the old painting would become the inspiration for a new piece that builds on those details, " says Jones. "I think of these paintings as a garden in full bloom, but with the garden's elements abstracted into color fields and shapes that contain an element of mystery."

Unlike the almost dreamlike quality of her previous work, which leads viewers into a state of contemplation, these new works have an immediate emotional impact. This creates a powerful connection between artist and viewer that transforms Jones' personal statement into a shared celebration of the natural world and its delightful complexities.

About the artist

The things that inspire me to create are found all around me - in the seasons, weather patterns, and natural elements.The grace in a falling leaf from a tree in autumn, a pocket of air trapped in ice, the burnt edges on a flower in the hot summer, millions of crushed shells in the form of sand along the beach. The inspiration found in nature for my art seems endless. Beauty is everywhere and as an artist I interpret that beauty, trying to integrate my personal style, and put it out there for people to connect with.

My work is part of a spiritual search. It is a need to express what sometimes can only be felt; to create an experience unique to each individual. Viewers find themselves feeling calm, passionate, or remembering another place and/or time that may have been forgotten. The combination of various mediums and materials with which I enjoy working include oil, acrylic, textured papers, asphalt, wood stain, glue, charcoal, wax and metal. My method of layering symbolizes change, time, and growth. Because of multi-layering, the paintings become an ongoing experience for the viewer. There are always new details to look at which earlier may have been missed. This also integrates my idea of trying to notice things in nature that some may overlook, or take for granted.

As I paint, each studio session becomes a form of meditation. My work is an intuitive process. The paint often dictates the final imagery, and I allow this to be my guide. The colors I choose to glaze over one another create mood, atmosphere, and a vibration of energy unique to each viewer interacting with the final piece. Working with the paint and the various mediums and materials helps to build up and break down ideas, thoughts, and patterns. I believe that the process I follow when creating a new piece is just as important as the end result. As an artist, my most significant reward is to know that my work has affected even one viewer.