THE ARTIST’S JOURNEY
“I’m going to be an artist.”
I’m not sure if my parents saw that coming when finding this early figure drawing.
Mesmerization with light and the desire to create art are two intense memories that stand out to this day while so much else has faded away.
My artistic intention lingered throughout my growing years, and art class was always my favorite activity in school. I was also keenly intrigued with animals, both domestic pets and wildlife. This interest found its way into much of the work I produced as a child and even to this day.
As a college student, I chose art as my major with a concentration in painting. I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama. While there, I received an Excellence in Studio Art award for painting in my senior year and was selected for inclusion in the Honors Art show.
In the years directly after graduation, I displayed my work in a number of shows in Biloxi, Mississippi, Mobile, Alabama, and Birmingham, Alabama, including a two-woman art show with my sister Teresa Campbell at the Birmingham Downtown Library called MomArt. Interestingly, although I feared the topic of motherhood might be viewed as too cute and sweet to be considered serious art, we ended up being censored for pieces depicting breastfeeding, which made local and national news. The censored pieces were eventually returned to the show following public outcry.
Rehanging censored art - July, 1991
The Precedent - Acrylic on Canvas - by Jean Campbell
Me Me Mom - Terra Cotta - by Teresa Campbell
My adult life took many turns while I raised two daughters as a single mother. Moving through various career shifts, I always kept a toe in the arts.
Other interests have made their way onto my radar and thus to my canvases: permaculture as a gardening method, sustainable living, and the interconnection of all life. I attempt to capture moments where the light hits an object in a captivating way, or a hidden beauty in some often maligned creature is revealed. I am moved when something ordinary feels extraordinary. It is then that I feel deeply a connection to everything and believe that humans are here to steward this planet, not mine it.
A way to describe what my work is, I paint light. It feels like there is some message in the captivating play of sunshine against shadow, much like the feeling of a lingering dream that you can't quite remember. Visions of gorgeous, natural light endow me with a wave of "okayness"; all is well in the vision I am viewing, all is well in the world around me, and all is well within my own self. The inspiration is so soothing and fleeting that I want to capture it, record it, and share it with the very next person that comes along.
My current creative goal is to document only what matters, leaving minutiae unmentioned. It is a challenging task for me, and I wrestle with it, but the struggle is what makes the work interesting on a personal level. Heaven forbid I should ever "get" there. Then what?
In my portfolio, you'll see pieces as small as 6" by 6" while some reach 30" by 40". I offer these original paintings and museum-quality reproductions for sale on my website. I also offer unique greeting cards featuring many of my pieces. To see all this and more, visit the Shop section of the website to learn about my available originals, museum-quality reproductions, note cards, and pet portraits. Oe reach out for more information via my Contact form. I want to hear from you!
Photo by Mac Logue