Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Carney.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I had very supportive parents who were totally encouraging with all my interests. I had that freedom of knowing I could do anything and they would be cheering me on. After being exposed to a wonderful art teacher in high school, who just happened to be an Adrian Dominican nun, I knew I wanted to major in art in college. There I was introduced to the abstract expressionists and it was all over. I felt like I found my tribe. The idea of making strong visual statements that communicate a feeling, idea or process through lines, shapes, colors and textures was enticing.
Even though I did not pursue my romantic idea of going to New York and starving while producing work I have continued to make art. My role models as teachers and mentors were all working artists. They inspired me to believe that I could combine an artistic practice and education. I pursued a master’s degree in art education and to my surprise I loved teaching. My approach was sharing a passion. Eventually I gave up teaching to work full time as an artist. The transition was a bit scary. I wondered if I really had anything that unique to say, but each day in the studio has been a discovery. The daily commitment is essential. I have stayed on this path throughout my life and believe as Woody Allen said 80 percent of life is showing up. Somedays when I show up I just make one tiny mark or spill paint and the accident is a wonderful beginning or I daydream or hear the lyric to a song that moves me. I grab from all of this and hope the visual statement that emerges moves someone as I have been moved by all those artists that have come before me.
Please tell us about your art.
Well, I consider myself very process oriented. When I begin I never know what the final piece will look like. I often start with some drawing from a photo I’ve taken or just free mark making. One thing leads to something else. A dialogue begins. I might pick up a section of an old painting that I have ripped up and add it, but this could just as quickly get ripped off. There is an improvisational quality to my work. I usually start by hanging unstretched canvas on a wall which allows me to attack the surface. I am very physical with my approach. I add, subtract, pour, throw, move the canvas to the floor and back again. This becomes a conversation, a back and forth of visual bantering. I love experimentation and play and it is usually evident in the final piece. A friend observed that I grab conceptually, emotionally and physically from whatever is in my path. My studio is messy and chaotic and I am often covered in paint but I am always searching for the hidden order that will eventually emerge from the chaos. I initiate many surfaces simultaneously so I can work with disparate ideas that evolve from personal experiences and the world around me. In the end, I hope the audience experiences something new and fresh with an element of surprise and joy.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
In some ways I think it has almost become easier for artists today. There are many venues to get your work out to the general public. Creating a website and even photographing and editing is more accessible. I think the idea of waiting until a big name gallery finds you isn’t as important anymore. Granted, you must be open to self-promotion but that’s something we as artists have always had to do. I am amazed at how effective Instagram has been for connecting with artists all over the world. Just being asked to do this interview is an example of how digital communication is so important in getting one’s ideas and images to a bigger audience.
Persistence, persistence persistence. It always pays off.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have found that Evanston is a very supportive community of artists. I am part of Evanston Made which is an event where many artists open their studios twice a year, in June and October. http://www.evanstonmade.com.
I also have a wonderful gallery in Columbus, Ohio that represents me and has been very successful in finding collectors for my work, Brandt-Roberts Gallery, brandtrobertsgalleries.com. In the Chicago/Evanston area I am represented by Art en Object, http://www.artenobject.com, a unique venue for collecting art. In addition my website is janecarneyart.com and Instagram is @janecarney.
Currently, I have fourteen pieces on display at Vedder-Price International law firm in Chicago through January and will be participating in and upcoming show at River Bank Lofts Gallery, opening September 27th.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.janecarneyart.com
- Email: mjmcarney@gmail.com
- Instagram: @janecarney
Image Credit:
Jane Carney
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