Unexpected Familiarity: The Art of Kerry Jane

With both the Cotswolds and Malvern Hills practically on her doorstep, it is little wonder Kerry Jane developed a love for nature. Her love of flora and fauna spilt over to her art as seen in the layers and details she adds to her works.

Self taught, Kerry Jane describes her style and taste as constantly evolving and a reflection on the disconnect between modern society and nature.

Working in both graphite and acrylics or oils, she uses graphite to capture tiny details, and paints to add vibrancy to her work.

As part of our artist spotlight series, we invited Kerry to share more about her work.

 

Art is a visual language, what are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?

I want my work to encourage the viewer to look beyond the familiar and to reconsider the way we perceive the natural world. I am fascinated by animals that have been misunderstood, overlooked or transformed by human imagination. These are often the creatures I like to use as my subjects within a piece.

I'm also interested in capturing human emotion within my animal subjects, a sense of curiosity, vulnerability, watchfulness, mischief or quiet defiance, as well as the more raw emotions around grief and loss, while still allowing them to remain recognisably themselves. Rather than simply depicting an animal, I want to give it a sense of character and presence, so that the viewer can hopefully connect with it.

I try to create pieces where the familiar meets the unexpected, and I hope this creates a feeling of curiosity and discovery. Ultimately, I want my paintings to remind us that the natural world is far stranger, more beautiful and more mysterious than we sometimes allow ourselves to see, it's full of hidden details when we take the time to look.

 

 

What is the most challenging part about creating art for you?

I think the most challenging part for me is knowing when to stop. I can become very absorbed in a piece and there is always something else I could refine, change or explore. I care a lot about getting the details right, but I also want the finished work to retain a sense of life and spontaneity rather than feeling overworked. This is why deadlines are often a good thing!!

I can also struggle with translating what I see in my head into something tangible. Often the initial idea is quite clear to me, but getting the painting to capture the feeling or atmosphere I imagined can take a lot of experimentation and patience... which I find hard!

I think that tension between control and instinct is actually an important part of my process though. I'm still learning to trust the painting as it develops, rather than trying to force it to become exactly what I imagined at the beginning. Easier said than done!

 

What role do you feel art and the artist have in today's society?

I'm very old school and I personally feel that all of today’s technology is making a lot of us miserable underneath it all. I think art has an important role in giving people a reason to pause. We are surrounded by so much information and imagery (often AI slop) every day that it can be easy to move through the world without really looking at anything. Art can interrupt that and encourage us to slow down, question something, or simply see something differently. Personally I like drawing attention to the natural world and encouraging people to look more closely at the creatures and environments around them, I think a lot of us have forgotten how vital the nature is to our mental health and general wellbeing.

I don't think an artist necessarily has to provide answers or make a statement about every issue. Sometimes the role of art is simply to create curiosity, wonder or a different perspective. I love the idea that somebody could look at a piece of mine and create their own story, that's really important to me. In a world that can feel increasingly fast and functional, I think there is real value in creating something simply because it makes us feel, wonder or look again. I guess I think traditional art is very grounding and a beautifal part of being human.

 

Do you think beauty in art is important?

Yes, I do, although importantly, I don't think beauty necessarily has to mean something being conventionally beautiful.

For me, beauty is often what initially draws us towards something, but it can then lead us somewhere more unexpected. I am very drawn to the beauty of the animals that might not always be considered beautiful or appealing, and I enjoy using that beauty to challenge our expectations.

I also think beauty can exist alongside something strange, unsettling or imperfect. Sometimes it is that contrast that makes an image more compelling. I want my work to be visually beautiful, but I also want there to be something beneath that surface that makes the viewer pause, look a little longer and perhaps question why they are drawn to it or the emotions they feel.

Ultimately, I think beauty is a wonderful reason to look, but curiosity is what makes us stay.