“I want my work to evoke a curiosity that extends beyond the eye alone.”
That’s what acrylic self-taught artist Jewel Lynham seeks.
People will have the opportunity to view Jewel’s paintings on display during the month of March at Thames Art Gallery.
The creator describes her work as “numerous symbolic” – a characteristic of the mystical effects expressed in her paintings, she said.
“As an artist I find many of my paintings take me into the realm of the psyche even though I am not consciously aware of doing this as I am creating a painting,” the artist said.
“I often paint to music as it enhances the mood in the moment so I can feel the colour palette play with the light and shadows with every brush stroke, an alchemy process of extracting the imagery out of the unseen.”
Jewel said some brushwork was refined while at other times it was more dramatic in boldness and texture.
Her career as an artist kicked off in France in 1987, where she had solo exhibits in Paris, Aix-in Provence and the “Salon D’ Automne” at the prestigious Grand Palais in Paris, she said.
The kiwi-born creative also lived in Arizona for 24 years as an artist before her return to New Zealand in 2010.
Something Jewel believed was that “art communicates”.
“The energy pushes through me to manifest form, stimulating and healing using colour and line incorporated into the visuals, which is then passed on to the viewer for their interpretation. The power of the images is incontestable. They represent a doorway to the soul and subconscious,” she said.
Jewel said being a self-taught artist offered her the “freedom of imagination” to express a rhythm and “mysterious atmosphere” to her compositions.
“Most of the paintings are generally painted without any pre-conceived idea in mind.”
DETAILS: Thames Art Gallery, 604 Tararu Rd, Thames, open daily from 10am to 4pm.
