Jeanne Warren
People fascinate me.
For as long as I can remember, I have drawn/sketched/and painted them. Relatively recently, I became very intrigued with “street photography” and how candid shots of people seemed to capture their “true” essence.
Like any large city, London is incredibly alive 24 hours a day; yet, within the hustle and bustle hides the sublime. Each of my paintings is one page of a life-long story about humanity today in this exciting metropolis. I find myself totally absorbed by the flurry of activity the moment I arrive there, and thrill at the prospect of capturing the next chapter on my camera.
My process starts, therefore, by walking the streets of London and taking hundreds of photographs of people around me. Each photo is scrupulously analysed tweaked and cropped, then tweaked again. After I am satisfied with the results, I begin to compose the work on board, omitting elements that are unnecessary or which may detract from the focus of my painting. With meticulous study and love of detail, my goal is to capture the beauty of that one brief moment in present day humanity as precisely as possible. I ask the viewer to take another look at those seemingly lost people and give them a second chance.
I have worked with many different mediums, but over years have discovered that water-based mediums suit me the best; most specifically, acrylics. Not only are acrylics highly archival, but they are perfectly suited to my chosen style of painting. Because of having a very strong background with watercolours, my paintings seem to take on the same kind of visual effect with my usage of colour and technique.
An art friend once told me that finding out “who you are” as an artist is like discovering “The Holy Grail”; and with my London figurative work, I know I have found it. I will never cease finding a new and exciting photo opportunity around the corner that needs painting.
"I'll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I'd like to."
~ Norman Rockwell
"I remember Francis Bacon would say that he felt he was giving art what he thought it previously lacked. With me, it's what Yeats called the fascination with what's difficult. I'm only trying to do what I can't do."
~ Lucian Freud
Exhibitions:
2013:
The Cork Street Open Exhibition, 28 Cork Street, London, 9 -16 August
Society of Women Artists (SWA), annual exhibition, Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, 27 June - 6 July
2014:
Society of Women Artists, annual exhibition, Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, 26 June - 5 July
2016:
Runner-up in the Jackson's Open Art Prize competition (An online competition)
For as long as I can remember, I have drawn/sketched/and painted them. Relatively recently, I became very intrigued with “street photography” and how candid shots of people seemed to capture their “true” essence.
Like any large city, London is incredibly alive 24 hours a day; yet, within the hustle and bustle hides the sublime. Each of my paintings is one page of a life-long story about humanity today in this exciting metropolis. I find myself totally absorbed by the flurry of activity the moment I arrive there, and thrill at the prospect of capturing the next chapter on my camera.
My process starts, therefore, by walking the streets of London and taking hundreds of photographs of people around me. Each photo is scrupulously analysed tweaked and cropped, then tweaked again. After I am satisfied with the results, I begin to compose the work on board, omitting elements that are unnecessary or which may detract from the focus of my painting. With meticulous study and love of detail, my goal is to capture the beauty of that one brief moment in present day humanity as precisely as possible. I ask the viewer to take another look at those seemingly lost people and give them a second chance.
I have worked with many different mediums, but over years have discovered that water-based mediums suit me the best; most specifically, acrylics. Not only are acrylics highly archival, but they are perfectly suited to my chosen style of painting. Because of having a very strong background with watercolours, my paintings seem to take on the same kind of visual effect with my usage of colour and technique.
An art friend once told me that finding out “who you are” as an artist is like discovering “The Holy Grail”; and with my London figurative work, I know I have found it. I will never cease finding a new and exciting photo opportunity around the corner that needs painting.
"I'll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I'd like to."
~ Norman Rockwell
"I remember Francis Bacon would say that he felt he was giving art what he thought it previously lacked. With me, it's what Yeats called the fascination with what's difficult. I'm only trying to do what I can't do."
~ Lucian Freud
Exhibitions:
2013:
The Cork Street Open Exhibition, 28 Cork Street, London, 9 -16 August
Society of Women Artists (SWA), annual exhibition, Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, 27 June - 6 July
2014:
Society of Women Artists, annual exhibition, Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, 26 June - 5 July
2016:
Runner-up in the Jackson's Open Art Prize competition (An online competition)