Glossy mixed media artwork, using acrylics and semi-precious materials by artist Jo West.
Summer's Dream I
Jo is the first UK colour changing resin artist. She has been selling professionally since 2016, has had many commissions and has gained interest from galleries. She was born in Plymouth and still lives in the beautiful south coast of Devon. A contemporary self-taught artist who is heavily influenced by her rural upbringing, she explores themes around nature. Her passion for understanding the human mind led her to study Psychology at Cardiff University and she went on to work with vulnerable people for over 15 years. She attributes focussing on the needs and feelings of others as inspiration for much of her work. Jo has trained in stained glass and jewellery making and uses some of the techniques she learnt to create her paintings.
Jo and her husband built their home 3 years ago. After having their second child, she is now able to work from home in her studio enabling her to spend more time with her children and reconnect with her lifelong love of painting.
To create her beautiful paintings she uses acrylics, mixed media and resin. There are many different processes she uses to create a painting and a lot of her work is done outside. She uses a mixture of tools to create layers and adds crystals, metal leaf, fine glitter, iridescent powder and fibre in the resin to add depth and interesting aspects. Jo has recently started using semi-precious and precious stones in some of her work as she is interested in the healing properties of crystals and is also experimenting with pressed flowers. She uses a multi layered approach, drawing the viewer into the depth and having the desire to touch the painting. Each piece is original and unique and is finished with a final coat of high gloss resin giving a glass effect.
Jo loves experimenting and is excited to see how her style will develop. Her aim is to make you smile and take you to a happy place. She loves the use of colour and how it can influence how you feel. Colour is nature's signalling system and she is fascinated how it can affect behaviour.Jo finds painting very therapeutic and follows her heart with every painting she does, she has so many ideas in her head, any chance she has, she paints. The Resin somehow brings a calmness and tranquillity to her paintings, she views it as slow running water. As much as she loves colour and glitter, the resin balances it out.
'I always want to help people feel good about themselves, we are surrounded by illness and chaos in our lives and sometimes just stopping and breathing in natures beauty can change how we are feeling''With all the stress we are under these days I like to create paintings that brings a smile to your face, imagine a place where you can relax and forget reality for a while.'
For the last year Jo has been experimenting with colour change products and has produced beautiful pieces. She is fascinated how the atmosphere can change and how it can affect feelings. She has always been excited by the idea of an evolving painting so this has given her the opportunity to develop this concept. As the painting warms up, the colour gradually changes to another or changes to a spectrum of colours. Jo endeavours to bring a little bit of nature into your home.'The endless colours surrounding us and the natural changing elements evoke emotion which I try to convey through my paintings.'
Mixed Media | Acrylic and Resin
38x38cm