Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Clifton.
Hi Jennifer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved art. I remember when I was little, my mom used to check out paintings from the library. How cool is that?. I would sit and stare at a print of Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth, or Van Gogh’s Sunflowers for long stretches of time. Art class was a motivator for me in high school and I found my people when I got into lithography at the print lab at Florida State University. While teaching art at a private school outside of New Orleans, students would often open up to me about issues/problems they were having, which led me to pursue a career in counseling. I moved to Raleigh in 1993. What came next: masters degree, got married, had two children, raised children, was a school counselor for 22 years – all the while finding time to do art. I made the difficult decision to retire early from counseling and become a full time artist. What a risky and scary decision – but one of the best I’ve ever made. With so much psychic space opened up, I am able to create art daily and tap in to unfettered creativity that has been waiting to be explored.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Raising children and working full time as a counselor often came before art. My decision to retire early to pursue art full time was financially risky and I was unsure I could make a living doing it. The risk paid off and also made me confident in my abilities to make a living as an artist full time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is maximalist mixed media which tends to be whimsical and full of color and patterns. I often portray strong female vaudeville stars, spokesmodels and circus girls form turn of the 20th century. You will find anthropomorphic animals and a lot of nature in my work as well. Recently I’ve been working on large mixed media pieces that require hundred of hours of hand applied sequins. The amount of energy I put into these pieces comes out upon viewing. Often people will exclaim, “That must have taken you forever to do.” I love the place these pieces occupy in the physical world. They feel like the antithesis of quick computer generated images.
I had two solo shows last year and will be having two this year. I am proud of these exhibitions because a lot of work goes into applying for, and then actually preparing for the shows. My work has been in local, national and international juried shows.
You can see my art on the walls at the awesome Irregardless Cafe and at Artspace – Studio 211 – come and see me!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of favorite childhood memories is of sledding on a toboggan with at least five other kids down a hill in our backyard in Connecticut. There was a snow covered ramp at the end and we knew we were going to hit it and completely go flying. We would pick up speed, barrel toward the ramp, hit the ramp and for a few seconds would be flying in the air breathless until we all landed a few feet apart from each other groaning and laughing. We got up and schlepped the toboggan back up the hill and did 15-20 more times in a day.
Pricing:
- Originals $200-$5000
- Giclee Prints $40-$350
- Payment plans on originals offered
- Open to commissions
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifercliftonart/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/jennifercliftonart
