Barbara JAMISON
Barbara Jamison’s passion for art first developed during studies at The New School in New York. Her studies and career gave her the opportunity to live abroad in France, Switzerland, Italy and England. “After living in Rome, I felt compelled to study clay sculpture, often doing figurative work”. But Barbara’s love of color was just too strong, enticing her to work in pastels then oils, supported by her studies with Andy Braitman. Then starting to work with acrylics, Barbara discovered the unique versatility of this medium. This was the impetus for her extensive studies with Nancy Reyner, in order to learn the many techniques that she now uses to better express her passion for nature.Born in Rye, New York, Barbara pursued a BA at Georgetown University and an MBA at Columbia Graduate School of Business. Her business career started in Manhattan, but soon took her to Rome, where she was General Manager of American Express’ Travel businesses for Italy. She then moved to London where she was Vice President of Amex’ Marketing for Europe. She now lives in Cashiers, NC with her husband Jim and two sons Kyle and Blake.
ART INSPIRED BY NATURE
My intention is to dazzle the viewer with a mystical and intimate experience of nature. I am fascinated with the shapes and forms created by a tree limb, a flower or a splash of water. My process is to work with highly liquefied paints, allowing me to guide the pigments while the canvas is laid flat. This encourages the formation of organic shapes while moving pigments with a palette knife, blowing through a straw or by heating to activate cellular movement. In short, I establish the environment for these organic shapes to be revealed. I work quickly as new shapes often emerge on the canvas, needing to respond immediately to capture these sparks of nature.