Interview

Apr 25

Sandrine Jacobson

Sandrine Jacobson, hailing from Melbourne, Australia, has found her artistic haven in California, specializing in the creation of deeply captivating and thought-provoking artworks. Her artistic journey began in her youth, a passion she dedicated herself to nurturing. Sandrine honed her skills at the prestigious Victorian College of the Arts, specializing in Fine Art Photography. In 1996, she emerged from this renowned institution, her artistic foundation firmly established. In her art, Sandrine draws inspiration from the enigmatic complexities of the human experience and the allure of the natural world. Her work masterfully weaves a tapestry of emotions, bridging the chasm between reality and the ethereal, captivating her audience with evocative aesthetics. Sandrine's commitment to unraveling the profound meanings and emotions behind her art remains steadfast. She infuses her work with introspection, inviting viewers to embark on journeys of contemplation and reflection.

Over two decades, Sandrine has diligently refined her artistic craft, driven by unwavering passion, tenacity, and a commitment to growth. Employing oils on canvas, she employs layered techniques to imbue her creations with depth and emotional resonance. Each new piece showcases the evolution of her artistic maturity and the potency of her creative voice. Through her relentless dedication, Sandrine consistently pushes the boundaries of artistic expression, crafting pieces resonant with authenticity and emotional depth.

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

“I was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1975. Life for me growing up was challenging; I had to overcome many difficult obstacles, which taught me to be unwaveringly resilient. I had always loved to create and was accepted into VCA, the most prestigious art school in Australia, where I completed my bachelor of fine arts, majoring in photography. I often went to the painting department and marveled at the students’ abilities. It was inspiring. After graduating, I practiced Fine Art Photography as well as some photojournalism. When pregnant with my first child, I put my camera down and picked up a paintbrush. I lightly dipped my toe into the painting world and experimented with many styles. One theme kept emerging, and that was circles. It encapsulated completion, wholeness and permanence. It was pleasant and decorative; my work never satisfied me, though. I always longed for deeper meaning; there was no way around it; it required hard work and perseverance, which I embarked on over two decades. I was determined. I was also feeling tortured by dissatisfaction with my work; I knew I needed to dig deeper and learn new skills to spend hundreds of hours creating. I destroyed most of my work; I was all or nothing, and not much was good enough to present to the world. In 2019, I began Jungian therapy as I felt stuck in one place. Emotionally and artistically. Through much more rigorous analysis and self-exploration, I began to learn how to translate my emotions and subconscious emotions into art and communicate them to others, but this took time. My psyche was waking up. I was working with intention now, being honest and vulnerable. A tender vulnerability, that is.”

What inspires you?

“My inspiration comes from many places and many things. Everything in life is art. There are always external objects, such as the clothes we wear, how we decorate our home, the food we make, scenery, nature, travel, artists, and textiles. But more potent for me, is the internal emotional landscape that I navigate and how I feel. My personal experiences allow me to develop and combine art and emotion in a way that is authentic and vulnerable. My work is not replete with love or ease but rather turbulence, hardship and enormous emotional pain from a very tender young age.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I wouldn't describe my work as themed but rather a discovery of courage - the courage to explore the emotional intricacies we share, the pain, sorrow, wildness, and unbridled frenzy. I am sharing my parallel journey between soul discovery and my art.”

How would you describe your work?

“My work may elicit feelings of contentment and relaxation or anxiousness and unease. However, it is evocative and provocative. I like to take the viewer on a journey of inner exploration, to travel to a place of memory, a feeling, a new perception. On the surface, it is partly ethereal due to my brushwork. There are no defining lines, only gradients of color transitions. We are like that as people, too, a change and metamorphosis that we barely notice. It is beautifully subtle, and you don't have to bump your head into the world. Using oils gives me richness and depth to my work, something I cannot achieve using acrylics.”

Which artists influence you most?

“One of the artists I admire most is Agnes Martin, a contemporary of the abstract expressionists: soft, gentle, childlike colors, balance, harmony, precision, and geometric abstraction. Even more interesting to me is who she was: mysterious, elusive, private, schizophrenic. She led an austere and solitary existence, which fascinates me the most. And then there is Picasso, who tried his hand at all creative mediums, whose art I don't particularly enjoy looking at but instead I’m inspired by his diversity. His controversy unsettles me, pushing me to think from a different perspective. He liberally borrowed forms and ideas he admired from various cultures and periods; he believed that surrounding oneself with inspirational individuals was essential to personal and professional progress. Lastly, the charm of Mapplethorpe's photography is that its work beautifully dances between tenderness and strength. His work both challenges me and presents classical beauty and controversy. He pushed the boundaries and created a debate around artistic freedoms, which is one of his significant accomplishments to me.”

“I am sharing my parallel journey between soul discovery and my art.”

What is your creative process like?

“I use oil paint on canvas and paint in blocks of time. I will go to the colors that best represent my feelings; I use a limited palette as too many options confuse me. I mostly listen to classical music, my favourite being George Winston and depending on my mood, I shuffle between his seasons. I am in my tiny home studio and have at least 2 of my dogs with me; I am in a zone and can spend many hours without taking a break, something I used to do when I practiced photography, developing my negatives and darkroom printing. Taking a break brings me back into the current world, and it usually takes me a little time to acclimate. As each layer progresses and I get closer to completing the work, I get nervous. I turn the work around or put it away. I am too close to the piece and need some space. If I do not do this, I end up destroying it.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“When you make art, you have deep conversations, combining your emotions and conceptual associations with your technical knowledge. You're trying to share your own experiences of life with those of your viewers; whether you know it or not, you're making emotional art. Having this responsibility is a privilege and a burden, and as an artist, you have a platform to make change or instill ideas into others. Art inspires others, gives them hope and can touch a soul in a way that words or language cannot. Depending on the type of art an artist creates, it may provide a sense of belonging, preservation, and entertainment, amongst other things. It can respond to cultural and social issues; one should always appreciate an artist's influence. Art today can take many forms and be interpreted in many different ways. Some people consider traditional mediums such as painting, sculpture and drawing art, while digital art, video art, and futuristic art will be on the trend upwards. I imagine a combination will continue.”