One of Lompoc artist Christine Jeszeck’s unfinished paintings was shelved for at least a year before she decided to revisit the piece, now set to be displayed in its completed form at Cypress Gallery in early May.
The project began as one of Jeszeck’s acrylic pours, an art form she usually approaches in one of two ways—either she’ll use the finished work as is, or she’ll incorporate it into another work. Her pours that don’t result in pure abstracts are often set aside temporarily to serve as surreal backdrops for subjects she decides to paint at a later time.
“I knew the pour would serve as a beautiful background for something, but until I came across a beautiful photo reference … it sat waiting,” Jeszeck said of Tiger, Tiger, a realistic profile of a tiger she painted over “an acrylic pour I had laying around for a year or more.”
Just prior to starting work on her tiger, inspired by a photograph by Denise McQuillan, Jeszeck had to subtly modify the original pour a bit, she explained.
“The original colors of the pour were in fact similar to the tiger, so I gave it a subtle wash of dark green to help the tiger stand out,” said Jeszeck, whose upcoming solo exhibition is scheduled to open on Thursday, May 2, at Cypress Gallery.
Tiger, Tiger is one of several acrylic pieces included in the new show, titled Pouring My Heart Out. Jeszeck’s goal with the exhibit, full of vivid abstracts, animal-centric scenes, and still lifes, is to present “a stimulating display of color and movement on canvas,” she said.
Jeszeck has been passionate about paint pouring, also known as fluid art, for decades, and enjoys instructing others about the art form as well. She regularly posted tutorials on her YouTube channel until her recent decision to step away from pouring for a while.
“Fluid art is on the way out for me. I enjoyed it immensely for several years,” Jeszeck said. “I have decided to retire my YouTube channel where I teach acrylic pouring. Of course, the channel will always be available to watch, but I will not be adding any more content,” she said, noting that she’s furthering her skills in other art forms she’s passionate about.
“I am planning to devote much of my future painting to my true passion, which is oil painting,” Jeszeck added. “I love every aspect of it, and I’m inspired by several contemporary artists, including Kelli Folsom, Sarah Sedwick, and Mike Carder, each of whom approaches their work in a different way.”
While Jeszeck appreciates the convenient, quick drying time with acrylic paints, she feels the slow drying time with oil painting allows for more flexibility, and she appreciates the medium’s “depth of color” and “blendability.” For some of her pieces, Jeszeck uses both acrylic and oils.
“I actually like to combine the two by painting an underpainting in acrylics, establishing the values and composition before moving on to the oils,” she said. “Over the years, I’ve painted more in acrylics than oils, but my plan now, at this point in my life, is to explore more of the beauty and versatility of classic oil paints.”
Despite a shift in focus, Jeszeck clarified that she can’t imagine quitting acrylic pouring for good. She enjoys the unpredictability of fluid art too much for that.
“While I am taking a break from teaching fluid art, I will still create it occasionally for my own pleasure and use,” the local artist said. It’s like opening a present each time—you’ll never know what you’ll get.
“However,” she added, “it can be frustrating and is a terribly messy art form. I won’t miss those aspects one bit.”
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood’s inbox is messy too. Send comments to [email protected].
