Featured Artist Jacq Garner

Jacq Garner shares a multi-faceted portfolio and a compelling journey of transformation as an artist. Discover more by visiting her website.

 

textured painting of a nautilus shell

“Spiralis” acrylic, 36” x 36”

 

What happens when your art career is suddenly yanked from beneath your feet? I was a wildlife artist, painting traditional detailed watercolours and acrylics. I taught regularly; exhibited widely; led tours, illustrated others’ texts.

 

acrylic painting of a grid of nature patterns

“All That Remains” acrylic, 24” x 24”

 

And then came Covid. I watched helplessly as events and bookings were cancelled. Income plummeted. The business I’d strived so hard to build was shriveling. Yet a tiny spark within me burned with hope. What if this is not a trauma, but an opportunity for a reset?

 

acrylic painting inspired by chaos and order

“Chaos Control” acrylic, 36” x 24”

 

The horrors of Covid cannot be denied, but it brought the biggest gift too. Lockdowns provided blocks of uninterrupted studio time, with only myself to please. I plunged into acrylics, exploring what they could and couldn’t do. Mediums lost their mystery, and a whole world of creativity unfolded. Experimenting with paints and mediums, with no end products in mind, not only gave understanding but was a balm for mental health.

 

highly textural acrylic wall art

“Slivers of Silver” acrylic, 14” x 10”

 

Experiments remain a big part of my creative practice today. I’ve always enjoyed working with layers, so beginning with an array of experimental marks which are then modified, feels both natural and full of potential. Modelling pastes, that could be shaped, scratched, and manipulated transformed my art. Gels providing transparency, depth and lustre were a revelation. And so to the biggest question. With all this new knowledge, what could I create?

 

textured patterned acrylic painting in a tile format

“Rock the UK” acrylic, 24” x 24”

 

Traditional wildlife paintings no longer gave enough creative scope. I scrolled through countless images, exploring what really resonated. Not just what I liked, but what gave a physical gut reaction? What was my body saying that my mind couldn’t yet articulate? Themes recurred: structure, pattern, texture, lustre. There were sub-sections too: layers, erosion, mystery, ancient history. 

 

acrylic painting reminiscent of veined marble

“Seams Like Gold” acrylic, 24” x 36”

 

The answer was simple: pattern in nature. A small shift from wildlife to nature, but a giant leap in style and individuality. Since then I’ve mostly focused on geology. Its tremendous visual appeal provides endless scope for creativity. While I enjoy geometric pattern, I find myself particularly drawn to more random arrangements, that nevertheless adhere to a distinctive structure.

 

acrylic abstract painting of natural rock pattern

“Mysterious” acrylic, 30” x 30”

 

The juxtaposition of structure and freedom may seem contradictory, but contrasts always appeal to me. I love a richly textured seam cutting through a plain surface or sparkle against matte. Whatever effect I want to achieve, acrylics make it possible. Impasto, lustre, flow, texture, spray, transparency… it’s all available. Creativity has never been such fun!

 

abstract painting reminiscent of patterns in nature

“Hidden Depths” acrylic, 24” x 20”

 

What happens when your art career is suddenly yanked from beneath your feet? You may just find it brings a whole new lease of life!

 

Jacq Garner invites you to follow on Instagram and Pinterest.

 

 

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