Painter Jessi West Lundeen presents her portfolio, filled with a variety of images in her delightful signature style.
ABI: How would you describe your signature style?
JWL: I would say that my style is colorful, vibrant and playful. I allow color and line to play a major role in the storytelling of my art. I use broad strokes, thick textures and graphic lines to make up my compositions. I love color and I often play with how colors react next to each other. I am inspired by impressionism, cubism, and color theory.
ABI: Why did you choose to work with acrylics?
JWL: I was encouraged to use oils in art school. However, I never took to them. I love the fast pace of acrylic paints. I love playing with layering colors and I often change my mind quickly. Acrylics allow me to move between ideas and cover things up when I decide on something else. Acrylics seem more playful to me, which is fitting for my style of painting and creating.
ABI: What is your favorite subject matter?
JWL: Birds. Mountains. Trees. Animals. I love painting nature. I usually paint scenes that I remember or make up in my mind. Painting for me is an exclamation of how beautiful the natural world is. I find so much joy being outside and experiencing nature for what it is.
I paint landscapes in vibrant colors to try to capture how my eyes have seen the mountains, fields and trees. Shadows are also my muse. I love playing with the contrasting color and shapes that shadows make on the ground.
ABI: You have two studios, in Wyoming and also New York. What are the advantages of each, and what have you learned?
JWL: Growing up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, I find that having a studio in my hometown is very easy. I am able to show my art in galleries and businesses when I am traveling or living elsewhere. The landscapes, birds, and animals in my hometown are always inspirational to me and show up in a lot of my work.
New York seemed like the perfect fit for me at the moment. It is full of life and opportunity. Having a studio in New York City has allowed me to experiment with cityscapes and play more with urban ideas of nature. I have also been able to show my work to a broader community and begin a larger network of followers. The successes of both places are very different, but I feel that I am always learning and growing as an artist no matter where I go.
My next move is to Denver, Colorado this fall. I am so excited to pursue galleries there and to spend summers doing art fairs. I am always trying to follow the market for my work and I think I might have found the perfect spot.
