With a lifelong love of colour and personal creative expression, Anne Jackson has been immersed in oil painting following a lengthy career in Education. Recent intensive work with American abstract artist Marianne Mitchell in the Artist Mastery programs, has lead to clarity of personal artistic intention and refinement of skills on her journey as a professional artist. Anne has studied various art techniques and Art History at the Haliburton School of Art and Design and she has worked with key professional fine artists who have helped shape her artistic vision. Anne’s paintings have been shown in many exhibitions and juried shows, and have been awarded including Curator’s Choice Award at the Kitchener Waterloo Society of Artists Juried Show and the Lloyd Minshall Award at the Central Ontario Art Association Juried Show. Originally from Toronto, Anne resides in Kitchener, Ontario.
Anne is the December guest artist at Mind’s Eye Studio Art Gallery and Yoga Studio. As guest curator, I’ve enjoyed spending time with her dreamy, contemporary abstract works. Get to know more about Anne ahead of the virtual artist reception on Thursday December 17th. Reception information here. Private viewings are available.
You were a teacher for many years. During your career in education were you also working on your art?
Absolutely. I’ve always been a creative person and my creative expression has included a wide range of techniques, from textiles and mixed media to acrylics and now oil colours, where I have found my home. As an adult, I’ve taken many courses and workshops, covering all aspects of visual expression. My main interest has always been colour, used abstractly in two-dimensional work.
What subject(s) did you teach?
I taught at the elementary level, all subjects except French, primarily grades 2-5. I loved introducing my students to various art materials and helping them to develop personal expression. Reading to them and facilitating in-depth discussions was always an important part of the day. Children have great depth of soul if encouraged to look within and express themselves.
Who or what inspires you?
My inspiration comes from within, combined with a sense of beyond. I am a person of the universe, the night sky, and my interior world. As for my influences, I am inspired by the spiritual paintings of Mark Rothko and the extraordinary work with light and time by James Turrell, amongst others who use light and colour as their language of expression.
How have the challenges brought on by COVID affected your art practice?
For me, peaceful, uninterrupted solitude is important for my creativity to flourish. Social restrictions put in place to cope with Covid have not greatly impacted my work; rather, they have allowed me to take all the time I want with my painting.
A piece on the easel in Anne’s studio.
When you start a new piece, do you plan what you are going to paint ahead of time?
In my recent work, I have been focusing on subtle colour transitions and the simplification of composition in order to create an overall feeling of meditative presence. Colour is where I start and I do experiment with colour flows and combinations, at times using Procreate, an app I have on my iPad. I am constantly looking at colour combinations anywhere around me and will often take closeup photographs, distilling the image down to pure colour, for inspiration. It’s amazing what is in our world to appreciate, if we take the time to notice.
Why did you choose Simplicity of Presence for the exhibition name?
The idea of simple but true presence is something that has interested me for some time. We are all ‘present’ in various ways, in various aspects of our lives. Ever-increasing demands on attention and participation in myriad aspects of our modern world, has a splintering effect on true, focused presence. The creation of my paintings takes a large amount of careful, patient, sustained presence. My hope is that my artwork will encourage viewers to pause and be immersed in their unique visual interaction, stepping out of the usual flow of time.
What has been the highlight of your artistic career so far?
I have been very fortunate to have my work included in many juried shows and have been honoured to receive some awards. At the beginning of 2020, I was the featured artist at the Kitchener Waterloo Society of Artists Annual Juried Show at the Homer Watson House and Gallery. It was a wonderful opportunity to work toward a goal and to see a number of my paintings all hanging together.
What do you hope people take away from your exhibition?
I hope that my work will encourage viewers to consider ways of being present in their own lives, while observing my paintings, in their interactions with others, and with themselves. True, sustained attention asks that we find a stillness of mind and an openness of heart for what is being observed and experienced. It requires patience and a willingness to set aside the pressures of time. For some of us, the pandemic has created opportunities for greater simplicity of presence; for others, especially front line workers, it has required tremendous focus of energies. May we all learn something from this challenging shared experience such that we can go forward with greater understanding and empathy.
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Interview by Glodeane Brown
Photo by Glodeane Brown
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