Jen Shewring is a Melbourne based semi-abstract impressionist painter. Her paintings are filled with the atmospheric light of the Impressionist painters and the emotional colours and tantalising movements of the Modern Abstract artists.
Jen Shewring
“It is hard to put a label to my style. Perhaps semi-abstract impressionism,” Jen said. “I look at things in nature and aim to capture that glance. I then wish to add an expression of my emotional approach to it; the blue light from a misty morning sun or the heavily scented orange glow of the afternoon sun. It is the feeling of that moment which has been spread along the canvas.”
Caffe Au Lait | 150 x 122cm | Acrylic on stretched canvas
Jen loves to paint outside, and even when painting indoors, she bases her work on numerous outdoor sketches. Her studio is situated amongst her garden in Melbourne and is as open to the outdoors as possible. “It is really just three walls,” as she described it herself.
“Every day, I spend time outdoors, and this is apparent in my work. It enables me to paint fresh, lively compositions full of organic shapes, flowers and foliage that allow you to continually discover new aspects in each piece of art,” Jen has explained previously. “If I could live outside, I would be as happy as anything.”
Love Potion | 158 x 113cm | Acrylic on stretched canvas
Colour is an essential and dominant element in her art. The colour schemes range from pinks to earthy tones and blues, depending on how she feels that day and her emotional response to the colour. “I use complementary colours. Sometimes I mix colours directly on the canvas, sometimes the colours are not quite mixed, and that brings [the painting] to life,” Jen said. “I have just gone through a pink stage and moved back into the earthy colours and blue. For me, the earthy colours are really quite calming.”
Line also plays a central role in her compositions. The lines create movement in the painting, much like in nature. Nature is always moving.
Harvest Time | 150 x 100cm | Acrylic on stretched canvas
Jen has always painted but not always professionally. Her professional background is in science, and it is probably this background that still today makes her a meticulous planner and one to study even the smallest of details. “I think I have about 50 paintings in my head all the time. They keep me awake at night, and in the morning, I sketch them out. I will then have three or four paintings on the go. I work on one, move on to another and come back to the first one again a week later. A painting evolves organically for me; I plan at the start, and halfway through, I let it just go on its own so that my scientific brain can subconsciously take over. I let the colours and lines talk to themselves.”
Three Loves | 30 x 42cm | Acrylic on artist quality A3 canvas paper
While Jen has always painted for pleasure, specifically nowadays, she wishes to communicate a message through her art. The natural environment has always enthralled her, and her concern for the impact we have on it is a logical continuation of it.
“Over the last couple of years, my focus has shifted more towards the impact we all have on the environment. So I started to paint the backgrounds deep charcoal colours to reflect my concern, how mad I am that we continue to slowly destroy our planet,” she described. “I still see the beauty in the world. I always will. This is why I put nature in the forefront, in front of the deep charcoal background. It is all about the juxtaposition.”
Caramel Mocha | 152 x 104cm | Acrylic on stretched canvas
“I often think to myself, what is next. Twenty years ago, I had small goals, get into an art exhibition, for example, and now, a couple of years later, I am the main artist,” Jen said about her career and future plans. “The small steps from twenty years ago are more than I ever thought I would achieve. Online selling has opened up a world where an artist can make a living.” And when asked, what comes next, Jen reveals her next professional objective; the desire to enter the Archibald Prize. “I find the human form very interesting, and I really enjoy portraiture. [To enter the Archibald Prize] would take a lot of time, and I would need to focus on it. I’d also need to find a great model!”
Seasons Love | 120 x 90cm | Acrylic on stretched canvas
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