Off The Wall Magazine Q&A with Jean Jack

4/1/2019

 

Maine.  I grew up in Massachusetts and spent the first part of my married life in Greenwich, Ct. Maine was always a fun getaway for our family. I was in a gallery in Maine in the early 2000s called the Firehouse Gallery. We were living in New Mexico at that time and I traveled back to Maine for my shows. I sometimes drove from Santa Fe to Maine and took photos along the way for upcoming works of art.

Inspiration.  I have always loved art and as a small child I would go down the street to my grandmothers house for peace and quiet and to draw. 

Medium.  I like oils. I spent a few years with acrylics but switched to oils.  

Artist Hero. Edward Hopper. I have spent many hours at the Whitney studying his paintings. 
 

Studio.  We bought our present house because of the potential studio. I appreciate that my studio, a former one-room schoolhouse, is barn-like. Every year we do a little bit more renovation to make the studio even better.

Where in Maine.  I wish we lived on the water but our location in Freeport is terrific. Its proximity to Portland and Boston is fabulous.

Fun Fact.  I have 8 siblings - 5 brothers and 3 sisters. My mother always encouraged art in our family.

Study.  I worked in New York City and went the Art Students League of New York at night.  I married and we ended up in Greenwich and I studied with Timmie Ogden; she made shadow boxes like Cornell. Timmie encouraged my art and had me use a pallete knife.  I changed to brushes after a few years and I went back to Art Students League. I didn’t really get into my art full time until my daughters were in high school. I entered many juried shows and focused on my art full time a few years later.

 

 


 

 

Learn more about this artist:

 

Available artwork

 

Radio Maine podcast interview

 

Art Matters blog article 

 

Off The Wall magazine Q&A

 

Mini-documentary film