Jen Sievers has been selling her paintings on perspex at endemicworld for just over a year now and it is with huge excitement she will be exhibiting here on Friday the 31st of March. We briefly catch up with Jen to give you some background into her background, painting process and her inspiration being “A Life Exotic”.
In 100 words give us a quick low down on your path so far?
It’s been a whirlwind! After a really long break from painting, I picked up my brushes in late 2015. I painted abstracts on canvas, obsessively, for a few months – figuring out my style and trying as many new things as I could. I then stumbled on a few artists that use perspex as a surface, so thought I’d give it a try.
When did you stat painting on perspex?
I first painted on perspex just over a year ago. I had to re-learn how to deal with a painting – I paint on the reverse of the perspex, so the whole painting happens in reverse… and I have to paint the top strokes first. Once a stroke goes down, there’s no going back to change it later. It’s crazy, the process makes perspex so much harder to work with than canvas or paper – but I love the results. I have to do very detailed sketches and plans before I start, and then I have to trust myself and make confident marks each time.
Whats the inspiration behind this show?
I’m so inspired by travel. I grew up in South Africa, and have lived in Indonesia and Mexico, and often crave the colour and texture of foreign places. This show is a big mash up of strong beautiful women (I call them my queens), birds, flowers, emotion and movement. I feel like its a topic that I could tap into for ages – the world is such an insanely rich and wonderful place and I get really excited at being able to express that.What’s your fave I’ve changed my mind about 10 times since reading this question. I get pretty emotionally involved with all of my work so its a hard pick! I think if I could choose one to hang up in my own home it would be ‘Nomadic Sands’. Each of my abstracts in this show are inspired by an actual travel memory. The one behind this painting is just too dreamy for words: Hanging out on the sand dunes in Jaisalmer in India – decorated camels walking by and the most alluring Rajasthani gypsies singing and dancing in the setting sun. The light in India is warm and pink. I feel like I’ve captured the moment it just as it felt.
All welcome to the opening night.
Doors open 5:30pm at endemicworld 62 Ponsonby Road.
Sponsored by Rogue Society.
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