By Gao Na Yang
The low whistle of the wind and the gentle rush of water can be heard throughout BC, starting in the gallery. Jamee Linton's landscape paintings create a calming atmosphere where college students can de-stress and find peace.
Her work has been exhibited in various venues in New York, Atlanta, Paris, London and Dublin. Linton's artwork has also been recognized in the New American Paintings Vol. 40, Picture Perfect by Stephanie Hoppen, Oregon Home Magazine, Portrait of Portland Magazine and Atlanta magazine. HGTV's "Deserving Design" with host Vern Yip has also featured Linton's work.
Linton, who currently resides in Portland, provides insight to the construction of her work and shares her love for landscapes with UP.
How did you start painting and how long have you been painting?
I started painting in the spring of 1998. I was a junior in college at the time. The first time I really felt like a painter was when I started painting with oils; it was the first time in my life when I became all consumed.
I stayed up all hours of the night working on my paintings. Before this moment I had experimented with multiple different mediums such as colored pencils, pastels, watercolors and acrylics.
You earned a MFA and BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design. Did you discover your love for art before or after school?
It was during school when I found my love of painting. I was a junior studying a BFA in Illustration. At the time, there was a graduate student by the name of Jay Crider who was assigned as a TA for one of my classes. He was a huge inspiration and catalyst for my career as a painter, not to mention he was also a good friend and an extremely talented artist.
How do you view your paintings?
I think my paintings tell stories, though it is not always me, the artist, who is the story teller. My landscapes remind people of places they have been or want to go. So many times it is the viewer who takes on this role as story teller. It is really great to hear how one of my paintings can remind you of home or another place that has made a significant impression on the viewer.
Your statement on the pamphlet states that landscape painting, which is the theme of your work in the BC gallery, is a vehicle through which you study life and nature. How did you develop the love of landscapes?
I started my first landscape painting in college while I was working on my MFA thesis body of work. It was a way for me to escape all of the conceptual theories that revolved around painting and to simply focus on the beauty in front of me. It was and still is therapy, a practice of meditation.
What is the process that you go through when constructing a painting?
I usually start with a sketch. I also sometimes use multiple reference photos during the process, but most of my work is an emotional response to life and the world around me.
Do you have a specific intention for the way you construct your paintings in term of size, proportion and balance?
I play with balance a lot. Each painting has its own compositional balance. Some have the focus of the sky while others the ground. Sometimes I start the painting knowing where I want the focus. Sometimes it appears later in the painting. I try to stay open to the process and I allow the painting to choose its own path. I try not to force it one way or another.
Do you paint anything other than landscapes?
For the past few years landscapes painting has been my focus. Before that I did a lot of figure painting. The figure paintings were conceptual with a focus on individual identity through consumerism.
Which of your creations is the most memorable to you and why?
I think of this series of work, I would have to choose "Morning Light" as my favorite. My brush strokes, color choice and even compositional decisions are directly related to my mood.
When a painting takes multiple days, weeks or months to complete, you are bound to see the painting differently and approach it differently. I love the texture in the sky next to the soft landscape below. The painting has a nice light and I find that my eye is very drawn to it.
And finally, where should people go to view more of your work?
Details are available at www.jameelinton.com.
