Thrilled to have had an interview with Jackson's Art Blog! It was published today and was spurred on by the 2016 JOAP. Here's the link:
https://www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2017/11/16/interview-jeanne-warren-painter-streets-london/
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Good news... I have been voted as the runner-up for the Amateur division of the Jackson's Open Art Prize Competition!
Good news on the day yesterday! My painting, "The Struggle" made the long list in the Jackson's Open Art Competition. There were approximately 3,100 entries and my painting is one of the 410 chosen from that number. Short list will be announced on April 29th. If I don't get that far, I am still very pleased to have made the top 17% thus far.
Yes, I know. It is a negative title to this blog entry. But in fact, the results of the 2015 BP competition came in on the 1st of the month, and this is what my email said....
...."This was the first year of the digital entry process and we received 2,750 submissions in total. Only 456 of those made it through to the final round of judging at Trinity Buoy Wharf and I wanted to let you know that your work then went on to make it through to the last 197. In the end only 55 were selected for exhibition, including the four short-listed for prizes, so the competition was very strong. We wish you the very best for your continued practice and hope that you will consider applying to the competition again in the future".... So, let's look at it this way. I lost. BUT I also won. I came very very close to actually hanging in the National Portrait Gallery with "The Struggle" and it is something that I should be proud of. I am getting better every time I enter. And being in the top 7% is nothing to be ashamed of. Will I try again? Perhaps. But I will never be able to "live" in a painting like I lived in this one. Those were my guts the judges were looking at. Don't get me wrong...I never want to experience life like I did in 2014 again. NEVER. So painting something like "The Struggle" hopefully won't happen again. But this just challenges me to look further I guess. So, I am back to painting my series, at least for now. I have so many exciting things to paint that my head is spinning. And time, it is a-wasting. Already four months are practically gone and I have yet to complete the painting I am working on now. Competitions. Can't live with them, can't live without them. Onwards and Upwards. This is the week that I find out whether or not my painting, "The Struggle" is shortlisted for the highly prestigious BP Award in London.
I am filled with an odd mixture of excitement, anticipation, and anxiety all rolled up in one. These feelings are all-too familiar to me and although I find the whole process nothing short of excruciatingly nerve wracking, I would not actually have it any other way. Reasons why? For one, entering a competition is a goal. It is something to aspire to, to work toward and is a means to an end. It pushes me to want to paint better every year, to search within myself to find the perfect subject matter in order to express myself and who I am as an artist. Secondly, over the years I have been fortunate enough to actually meet and become friends with other artists who have succeeded in placing in competitions such as the BP Award. These artists are people I aspire to. They are also comrades. They feel the same things, desire the same things, and have an inner strength that I deeply admire. I am grateful to have gotten to know them; and as a result, I applaud them for all of their successes. Lastly, entering competitions allow me to feel as if I am a part of things; I am not just this lonely painter stuck in a house with my brushes and ideas. I become one of many people of like mind who desire the same kinds of things. I will announce right here, in my blog, that I do not expect to get through to the chosen few that hang on the walls of the National Portrait Gallery. It is not because I don't have confidence in my work or because I don't think it is worthy. It is because over the years I have learned about how extraordinarily difficult it is to "get through". So many factors play a part; more than I myself would even begin to guess. However, that does not mean that I will not continue to strive to get at least one of my paintings chosen for this particular award one of these years. Call it a "Bucket List" item if you will. Good luck to all, I mean that. And if I know you, I will be there beside you cheering you on if you succeed. It's a brand new year and whether it is happy or not...well, we shall see, won't we? In my specific instance it must be better. Last year, (which is one I want to forget as soon as possible, please) was not stellar. End of.
On the art front, in the midst of personal turmoil and upheaval I did manage to get one painting in a London exhibit. Which believe me, was no mean feat!!!!! And I am proud of myself for not giving up. I am soon going to finish "The Struggle", hopefully by the end of this month. And believe me, it has been a real struggle painting it, so the name is very apt. I started painting the subject's face, finally, about three days ago. Something happens to me when a face starts to materialize. It is nothing short of miraculous to see someone staring back at me from a blank piece of wood. And depending on who that person is and the circumstances surrounding that person are, I can get very emotional indeed. This time I just broke down and cried my eyes out. Soooo much going on with this particular painting that I cannot begin to describe it. And why would I want to anyway? It is up to the viewer to make his/her own decisions about it. I don't think I am going to enter it in any competitions (yet) as finances are holding me back. BUT next year is always around the corner. I am also very VERY much looking forward to getting back to my figurative series. There are at least six paintings just waiting to be painted and I am anxious to start. The only glitch is trying to figure out which one I want to paint first as so many are interesting. I think making a 2015 resolution is a bit silly but I will state that what I will strive to achieve this year is not only producing as many paintings as I can but to try not to go overboard emulating other artists. It's not that I don't; it's just that I have to start giving myself a bit more credit for what I have achieved and will continue to achieve in the future. I am taking your hand, New Year, perhaps hesitantly at first, but with hope that there will be more promise and good things to come. It's been awhile and I am feeling well out of the loop these days.
2014 has been, shall I say, very eventful. Unfortunately, in not the best way. But I am finally back on my feet again, albeit feeling a bit shaky as I go along. I did manage to finish one painting this year, but will be starting another one soon...rather, I am going to pick up on it again. It is a very emotional one for me and I know this is one of the reasons why I have been hesitant to get back to it. I am hoping that completing it will be cathartic for me as well as "releasing". If people like it, great. If they don't, that's ok too. I am painting this one for myself. The title is going to be "The Struggle" and I am going to just assume between what it is called, as well as the subject matter, will be enough. I was really pleased to get some advice from some fellow artists (whom I respect) on the reference photo and that will be helpful, very helpful in fact, to get my point across. The man who posed for me has a face that really really speaks. He single-handedly was able to get my own feelings across. In other words, I projected my own feelings onto him and because he empathized completely, the shoot turned out to be perfection. Sooo, August, goodbye. September, hello. Sayonara to bad times, bonjour to better days ahead. Ah, can't believe time has gotten away with me! Just wanted to post this photo of my painting hanging at the SWA exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.
The photo was taken on the same day as the private viewing, which was June 25, 2014. I was pleasantly surprised to see it hanging in a good spot, albeit kind of crammed into a corner. My little man held his own, I think, and I was mighty proud to see him there. It's been an unusual year, lots of very private goings on in my life, but hopefully soon I will be back on track with the painting. I will be working on a very personal piece, a portrait, and am looking forward to getting back to it again. I miss painting; it's like losing a very big part of myself. Onwards and Upwards, as my good friend Bryan says. ![]() So pleased! I found out that "Waiting" is finally going to go up on a wall, a very prestigious wall, this summer. I discovered yesterday that it was accepted into the SWA competition, and will be hanging in the Mall Galleries, London, on June 26th to July 7th. So, here's to you, handsome chappy, whoever you are. :-) And thank you, ladies, for giving him a bit of wall! |
AuthorJust little old me, fitting into this little old world. :-) Archives
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