Jae Schalekamp
Artist Statement
My nature-inspired paintings are more in the manner of a portrait, rather than a landscape. Looking at all different shapes and sizes of plants, mingled and tangled, yet keeping their own growing directions toward light, I find myself trying to identify simple truth and wisdom. In the phenomenal cycle of nature, a unique individual can tell a story, by its shape, line, and color that are created by the interaction between different natural elements.
While my painting is representational, I often paint without a model and mostly by imagination.
My subjects are either simply depicted as a state of being or situated as a metaphor, as a means of self-reflected expression. The textures and subtle monotone palette seems to be influenced by my flair in designing textiles, and also my pursuit of serenity and simplicity.