This work represents themes that have been developing in my private creativity for many years. They are related to a thread in my creative vision that runs right back to my earliest days of painting. Being an introvert I have always been very involved with my inner world which is filled with rich visionary experiences and since art school, when I have been able, I have expressed aspects of this inner world in my paintings. This current work is where I have picked up the thread most recently.
You can read more about them on my studio blog here.
oil on canvas 2016
24x30"
oil on canvas 2016
24x18"
oil on canvas 2015
30x40"
Ever since I began art school in 1983 I have had a keen interest in drawing and painting faces and in portraiture. In early years I was drawn to pre modern painting where I found inspiration and spent most of my time studying the work of artists from past centuries. These interests formed my own creative vision which is best expressed through representational and more or less traditional painting styles. My experience of portraiture is that it has a remarkable capacity to silently communicate the essence of both unique people and collective experience. It is a vast genre of visual art that is appreciated and valued by both connoisseurs and general audiences and I am happy to be able to contribute to the tradition.
I am also happy to take on any commissions that call for my creative vision and skill.
2017 oil on canvas 40x30"
oil on canvas 2015
30x20"
private commission 2016
oil on board
46x26"
oil on canvas 24x18"
2013 oil on canvas 24x30"
oil on canvas 36x36"
oil on canvas 20x16"
oil on canvas 30x40"
Museum of Contemporary Art Calgary
Olympian Heights fund-raising project
2013 oil on canvas 36x48"
oil on board26x46"
oil on board 48x26"
oil on board 18x24"
oil on canvas 22.5x27.5"
oil on board 24x18"
2012 oil on canvas 37x33"
2010 oil on board 24x22"
oil on board 48x26"
James
2010 oil on canvas 41x53"
oil on board 18x24"
oil on canvas 30x33"
oil on board 18x24"
oil on board 48x26"
private commission 2008 oil on board 25x27"
2007 oil on board 9x12"
2007 oil on board 36x24"
2006 oil on board 28x24"
private commission 2006 oil on board 25x19"
oil on board 39x36"
oil on board 39x36"
oil on board 25x19"
oil on woven textile 14x18"
My intent for working from still life is both technical and philosophical
and can be talked about on different levels. First, technically I find
the practice develops skills that any of my other work does not.
The tradition teaches me as a painter how to look, see and translate
in a unique way. Next, I am fascinated by the traditional language of
symbolism and the potential of narrative expression in the theatrical
arrangement of material objects. Shifting a little deeper I am also
fascinated by illusion in representational painting and the metaphors
inherent in creating real material objects(artworks) that are essentially
illusions of “real” things. And finally, deeper still and paradoxical to
the last point, I find a very valuable spiritual practice in working
from still life which is inspired by ideas in philosophy and spiritual
teachings like in the quote below:
“If you are suffering loneliness at any time I want you to remember
that you are not alone because every tree, every flower, every chair,
every lampshade, every houseplant and every carrot in the refrigerator
is living love recognizable in that form and is loving you with a love
that goes through your every being and inspires you. You are being
loved at every moment by everything because it is not matter, it is
not the result of a big bang, and it is not an illusion.”
“Everything is alive with its intent for you to experience it as what it really is.”
both quotes are from Rajpur through Paul Tuttle, Kingston, Washington, 2002
Janine Hall Feb. 2014
2014 oil on board 10x10"
2013 oil on board 18x20"
2013 oil on canvas 18x20"
2013 oil on board 11x14"
2013 oil on board 10x8"
I begin all of my portraits by making a study on paper.
I usually work from photo reference, collaging many
different original photos into one final maquette to work
from. The step of making a study before I paint is an
important one as I edit and refine the image. There are
differences between the maquette nand the study but
not many between the study and the final painting.
I use charcoal, graphite and chalk separatly or in
combination in these pieces.
I enjoy drawing very much and not all shown here are
studies only. Some are finished pieces.
janine
feb 2014
2018 charcoal on paper 16x20"
Graphite on paper
20x30" 2014
2013 11x14"
2013 18x24"
2013 48x26"
2012 22x27"
2012 23x19"
2011 37x33"
2010 22X18"
2010 20x20"
2009 18x24"
2009 48x26"
2008 24x18"
2008 24x18"
2008 40x36"
2008 18x24
2008 25x27"
2008 25x27"
2007 23x19"
2007 9x12"
2007 9x12"
2006 37x33"
2006 39x36"
2006 39x36"
2005 24x18"
2005 30x24"
Here is a selection of my earlier work. I have been keeping a studio blog since 2008 and you can read about all of my work since then here.
2007 oil on board 16x16"
2007 oil on board 16x12"
2007 oil on board 20x18"
2007 oil on board 16x12"
2007 oil on board 12x10"
2007 oil on board 10x8"
2007 oil on board 18x18"
2008 oil on board 36x48"
2008 oil on board 36x36"
2008 oil on board
2007 oil on board 10x10"
2007 oil on board 10x10"
2007 oil on board 10x10"
2005 oil on board 27x20"
2006 oil on board 30x32"
2004 oil on board 15x15"
2005 oil on board 16x18"
2004 oil on board 32x24"
2007 oil on board 24x20"
2005 oil on board 36x24"
2005 oil on board 32x40"
2013 oil on canvas 26x42"
2014-2019 oil on canvas 26 x 48”