Interview

Aug 5

Karen Jaques

Karen Jaques is renowned for her passion for life and this comes through in her approach to her creative work as she seizes the moment and expresses with hands rather than brushes. She captures the lightness of life often balanced with the dark in bright and bold compositions that serve to remind us that nature and our surrounds will always ground us spiritually, emotionally if we are open. Her work connects us back to home is where the heart is.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“After studying art at school, I used to be a very abstract painter in my approach. For many years, I did not paint but instead threw myself into interior design and special paint effects in homes. When my mother passed suddenly, I felt a huge need to reconnect with her and her stunning garden full of flowers so that drove me to again pick up a brush. Since then, I have been trying to explore my natural style through abstract, impressionism and expressionism but then an inner energy took over and now, most of my paintings are expressionism and painted not with brushes but predominantly with my hands.”

What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?

“I have a driven passion for life and I try to seize and capture that essence in the moment. I try to capture the lightness of life often balanced with the dark and bold compositions that serve to remind us that’s nature and surrounds will always ground us spiritually, and emotionally if we are open. My latest series called ‘Heavenly Hydrangeas’ is a reflection of the grieving process. The inner passion drives me to be bold, brave and courage about believing that adversity can become a path that links us back to our authentic self, and strengthens our capacity to get us through.”

Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?

“I generally choose a theme and photograph flowers that reflect the essence that I am trying to connect with. Sometimes, I can just wake up and something inspires me overwhelmingly and I just need to go and create and channel while it is still fresh and I feel driven. At times, I can get so much energy and inspiration that I can complete a huge canvas in a day.”

Are there any art world trends you are following?

“Abstract works are a particular interest to me, as they are complex and when viewing take you out of your normal space and stimulate the eye and mind. I have started experimenting with mixed media and love the textures, layering an complexity. Smaller works are also of interest as they meet the needs of apartment dwellers in restricted spaces. I generally scroll through websites like Bluethumb and other online galleries to see what is currently trending.”

“I have a driven passion for life and I try to seize and capture that essence in the moment.”

What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?

“I always regesso my canvas before I map out design, then use charcoal to draw up as a guideline. Generally, I always work in acrylic mediums but am now ready to branch out and explore the fluidity of oils. I really load up my hands with multiple colours and apply getting in the background first and working my way forward and once done finessing the final stages again with hands and occasional brush but manipulate the edges of leaves and greenery with the edge of my fingers and blending with palms.”

What does your art mean to you?

“My purpose is to create magic that is appreciated with each hand or brush stroke. My art is a reflection and interpretation of the beauty I see around me. I connect with the true me and it feeds my soul. The creative space in my mind is painting things that touch me physically, emotionally and spiritually. I want my art to be painted whilst tapping into my authentic self and producing a story where the observer feels like they are part on my journey which connects them to my artwork.”

What’s your favorite artwork and why?

“I did a portrait of my mother 'Day of the Dead' Mexican Caterina style and it has captured her passion, her essence, it is light and bright just like she is and was. I have always been passionate about the way the Mexicans celebrate life and death equally during their annual celebrations and that passion really drove me to create some sort of magic with each brush stroke.”