Artsy Shark presents the work of featured artist Jeanne Cowan. This Canadian painter captures images of the natural world and it’s beauty. See more of her portfolio by visiting her website.
My paintings are inspired by my life experiences. I like to paint the land, water and all of its inhabitants as a way of preserving the beauty and my own sense of wonder. I paint Faces as an ongoing series that represents the woman in transition and my abstracts are based solely on exploration. I strive to create work that is emotive and sensitive.
One of my favourite quotes is by one of my favourite artists Canadian painter Emily Carr : ”What do I want to express? The subject means little. The arrangement, the design, color, shape, depth, light, space, mood, movement, balance…not one or all of these fits the bill. There is something else…a breath that draws your breath into its breathing, a heartbeat that pounds on yours, a recognition of the oneness of all things.”
Jeanne has made her home in the beautiful province of New Brunswick Canada since 1966. After high school graduation, she completed the necessary training and entered the field of hairdressing. After enjoying a twenty year career as a hairdresser and eventually owner of Burton Hairstyling, she retired to pursue other interests and avenues.
Jeanne has always been artistic and creative. She is fascinated with art, specifically painting and has immersed herself in studying the psychology of art, colour theory, composition principles and technique.
Jeanne was employed at Hanson Art Gallery for four years and was responsible for all aspects of framing, including glass and mat cutting, hanging art and general office duties. She served on the Board of Directors for the Oromocto River Watershed Association where she provided voluntary website design services, photographed and reported news and events. She also collaborated and designed creative visual presentations for public awareness. Jeanne designed the 80 page hardcover book “Before It’s Gone” The Oromocto Watershed by Robin Hanson which she says was an amazing learning experience.
Discovering nature and all of its glory was a defining moment in Jeanne’s life. Walking, biking, fishing and kayaking are a few of the things she loves to do. She is an avid photographer. She and her husband travel the back roads of Atlantic Canada looking for the beautiful, because as she says…it is simply good for the soul. As Albert Einstein says: “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.” Jeanne recently completed a series of paintings of Wildflowers native to New Brunswick. This collection of wildflower paintings was inspired by the joy and fulfillment she has experienced in the natural world. Surviving in their own unique conditions without human intervention makes these discoveries special. For her they symbolize beauty and freedom.
Jeanne is a member of several art organizations whose mission is to educate and advance the public’s awareness by promoting and supporting the Arts and through connecting the Arts to the community. She regularly donates her work to business and organizations to help raise needed funds.
My goal for the year 2011 was to have a completed, cohesive body of work ready to submit to juried shows and other venues for showing. I am on target. I have had one major joint exhibit at Imperial Theatre in Saint John New Brunswick with photographer Helen Morag McKinnon. I also have work showing in The Palate Restaurant located downtown in the capital city of Fredericton New Brunswick and an ongoing display of paintings at The Oromocto Therapeutic Treatment Clinic, Canex Mall, Oromocto N.B.
My future goals are to continue learning all that I can about all aspects of the arts and myself. My future projects include series of paintings that will depict the soulfulness of the landscape, the wildlife and the people of Atlantic Canada. I am going to reach for the stars.
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