Painter Jillian Webb Herrmann is VIVA’s May Guest Artist!
From the Artist:
Life is beautiful and messy, calm and chaotic. There is joy, and there is suffering. It’s hard, it’s easy, it’s emotional… it’s everything all at once. When I create art, I want it to reflect the joy and beauty that shine throughout the struggles. Painting the essence of a place or emotions, I want to bring you the feeling of that moment.
Earning my Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2007 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I became fascinated by color, abstraction, and how our individual life circumstances shape our perspective of the world around us. The works of Hans Hofmann, Edvard Munch, Mark Rothko, and other greats have influenced my work through the years. I am continuously inspired by the landscape around me and the emotion it invokes.
Creating from my farmhouse studio in rural northeast Iowa, I use texture, color, and mood to create depth and connection in abstract atmospheres. As an intuitive process painter, my paintings are a space in the craziness of life that I am able to let go of perfectionism. A space in which I am able to make choices and react while painting guides me.
Art is a medium to aid healing, foster growth, and encourage connection. I am grateful to use my creative expression as an outlet that provides an opportunity to connect with others. The resulting conversations generate new bonds with others on many levels.
My artwork lives in collections and households on multiple continents, throughout numerous countries, and even right here in the rural Midwest. I am so happy to produce art that speaks to people of all backgrounds and is accessible to our local communities.
Jillian answers some questions!
Why did you decide to work in your chosen medium?
I am a vigorous painter and love layering and texture. Using acrylic paint enables me to work quickly, let go, work over and into the piece, and build up the layers.
What does your studio look like?
My studio is almost always a creative mess! I love a clean, tidy studio, but I tend to have several projects going on at once and there are paint brushes, works in progress, and ideas all over the space. :)
What’s the most indispensable item in your studio?
If I had to choose ONE tool to paint with it would be a palette knife!
How do you know when a piece of work is finished?
I have been asked numerous times over the years how I know when a piece is complete... When I feel like the work is balanced and feels like it has the energy and emotion I'm looking for, then I hang it on the wall. If I'm unsure when I walk away I'll know when I come back to it. If I like the piece more each time I look at it I know it's ready.