Rising Stars: Meet Jewel Conway

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jewel Conway.

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
I’m originally from Massachusetts. My parents were professional musicians, as well as so many of my extended family.  Although I adore music, I didn’t get that gene. I only sing to my cats in the studio when I get enthusiastic. They make faces and suffer through it, but they’re troopers. Art is, and has always been, dearest to my heart.

Although I didn’t major in Art at college, I took classes along the way as I moved to Louisiana, California, and Arizona. It gave me the opportunity to illustrate two children’s books from local writers. My preferred media at the time were graphite pencil and ink.  I always yearned live my life as an artist, not just take classes.

My professional career sprang from a conversation I had with an artist who was putting together a county-wide art event to help fund art education for the elementary school system in Arizona.  The art event was called Kaleidoscope Horses. She and I were both volunteers at a horse therapy riding school organization that served physically and developmentally challenged children and young adults. A horse’s gait of moving back and forth, side to side, is a fabulous method of physical therapy and emotional bonding for the riders.

Similar to the very successful Painted Cows Project in Chicago and themes in other cities, Kaleidoscope Horses, in Phoenix, Arizona, featured 25 life-size horse statues with designs by professional and amateur artists.  Each Kaleidoscope Horse was sponsored by a business, organization or non-profit in Maricopa County.  Sponsors received a high level of exposure for their sponsorship, as the artwork was done live at five malls in three weeks, providing a public venue for the community to observe the transformation process. Artists were chosen from submissions state-wide by the sponsors.  I submitted my proposal to the Epilepsy Foundation (I have epilepsy) in a Van Gogh theme and was selected.  I have always loved how Van Gogh painted, with swirls and wonderful colors.  I was inspired by his technique and adapted it to blend 3 paintings over the entire horse. Painting a life-size Arabian horse in a mall was a huge challenge but it was also incredibly successful for the Epilepsy Foundation and its outreach to the community.

All 25 horses traveled around the state of Arizona for display at resorts, galleries, exhibitions, The Randy Johnson Invitational Golf Tournament, International Arabian Horse Show (Scottsdale, AZ), Arizona State Fair, Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl Parade, and the largest horse parade in the world, Parada Del Sol, in Scottsdale, AZ.

The Kaleidoscope Horses project motivated me to take oil painting classes at the local college and it transformed my approach to artwork completely. I no longer created art through graphite and pen methods. Painting changed everything! My art professor suggested that I experiment with colors that wouldn’t necessarily be used in a completely realistic painting.  It was such a transformation! A eureka moment.  It instantly clicked with me, and I made it my own. My technique is to paint in pure, bright colors. A black and white dog may turn out to be purple, blue, and pink. A tree could be orange with maroon grass. I joined local and state art organizations, learned from professionals, and started to get accepted into local and statewide exhibitions, galleries, as well as performance and theater venues throughout Arizona.

I’ve learned that artists are incredibly supportive of each other and actively try to help others along their way with mentorship, advice, enthusiasm, and opportunities they know will help or inspire you. There is a general belief that artists are secretive or unwilling to share about their artistic methods or techniques in case there is a competitive edge. Far from the truth! You get a bunch of artists in the same room together and they blab about everything, share experiences, get inspired by others, and leave happy and rejuvenated!  Every artist is unique and has their own way of expressing themselves.  If you aren’t learning, there is no way to develop as person and an artist.

My husband and I moved to North Carolina 11 years ago. We wanted to be closer to our families, but also wanted to be in a vibrant community that is known for its connection to the arts. After much research, we realized Durham was the perfect place! The city and its people are amazing, eclectic, friendly, and diverse. As well, local businesses, restaurants, bars, coffee cafes, etc. are well known for exhibiting local artwork. They are willing to give you a chance without focusing on an extensive bio or a degree in the Fine Arts, only on the merits of your artwork, which is uncommon. In fact, there is a large network of art exhibition venues available to artists in the Triangle area, especially Durham.

I exhibited in both group and solo shows for several years, as well having an opportunity to display my artwork in local businesses, including a “Bull Series” specifically reflecting the Bull City identity for Durham. Bull City Art and Frame Co showed my work, along with a solo show as well. They are amazing people and so dedicated to the art scene and cultivating local artists. Their framing is artwork in itself.

My painting career took an unexpected turn after I did a commission of two dogs in crazy colors for a couple who owned “Other End of the Leash” in Durham. It was a large canvas, 4 ft x 5 ft, which was hung on the wall of the business. That painting was a catalyst to a new direction. People who saw the painting or recognized my work wanted their own.  By word of mouth or seeing a piece of art at a friend’s place, I was swamped with commissions!  I fell into doing commissions of pets! Who knew? Visitors from out of town contacted me because of that painting. In fact, most of my commissions are for pets, although my artwork subjects reflect nature in all aspects.  My clients want the bright colors and the power it brings to their piece. Although I had commissions in Arizona, none had ever been pets. I have been doing a spectrum of commissions on a full-time basis for about eight years.  (My cats are my ‘studio peeps’. They have fleecy comfy beds in the studio, but they often will ensconce themselves in my drop cloths, on a random shelf, in a box, or the ever-hopeful spot on my lap while I’m covered in paint.)

I recently started to experiment with abstract paintings in acrylic. My oil paintings are time intensive. I started doing abstracts between commissions – like ‘recess’ between trigonometry classes, so to speak. Only a few abstract paintings have had some idea behind them, but mostly it is just a play with color, contrast, metallic paint, glittery materials for a sparkly effect and high gloss varnish. Sometimes the canvas has up to five or six layers of paint in contrasting, bright colors. Depends on when I think it’s finished. I love the freedom and spontaneity. Latin music is almost always in the background!

At this point, I have been painting professionally for 13 years with collectors in 18 states, have been published in five editions of the American Art Collector book, and am a national and international award-winning artist. I’m really excited about it all!

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Actively going after your dream, no matter what it is, is never smooth! In fact, nothing worth working for is ever without potholes, swimming in riptides, exasperation, being overwhelmed, and cliffs you can’t believe you have to climb to get there.  But in return there are also the happy accidents that can change the course of your work, the shock of “OMG! It’s brilliant!”, a piece you’ve given your soul to that turns out to be one of the most precious things in another person’s life, the joy of learning, and the people and the experiences that transform your life along the way.

Developing as an artist takes a lot of hard work and continues evermore. The analogy of an iceberg is perfect. You only see the gorgeous, dramatic tip of the berg, not the immense work and learning it takes to make the iceberg in the first place. Writers, performers, or any other genre get to where they are by learning, practicing, experimenting, taking chances, working hard at it all. Over and over again. But, if you don’t believe in yourself, nothing will happen. It must be your passion. You never know until you try.  You’d be amazed at how the power of belief can transform your life.

The pandemic was incredibly hard for artists of all venues. Performing arts, music, literature, visual arts, outreach groups, and so many more, all took massive hits. As an artist, sources for exhibitions were impossible, galleries were rarely visited – if they were actually open, group gatherings and meetings were canceled. Money for everyone was scarce. Creating art in a vacuum with hardly any one-to-one contact was very difficult.  A veritable two-year blackout, so to speak.

We moved to Raleigh in April of 2020, right when the world came to a screeching halt! It had taken months to find a place near John’s work with more space and an area for a studio. Lockdown was put in place as we were packing for the move and getting ready to leave. The logistics were crazy, the move was complicated, and I was in the middle of a large commission! And then the cats were all over the place, literally.  Fortunately, John was able to work remotely, and the basement turned out to be a great studio.

In the wasteland of the lockdown and tragedy of Covid spreading like wildfire throughout the country, especially during 2020-2021, I was stunned by an influx of commissions.  Those who had seen my artwork before, or on Instagram, started to contact me for custom pieces.  Every one of the clients expressed a desire to have artwork that captures happiness or fun through bright colors. That’s what I do! The subjects of the paintings were of places or pets that give them joy.  It is extremely important to create an emotional connection between the artwork and the client. Every one of them were completely isolated or working from home.

Most of the paintings were pet portraits. The sizes varied from small (14” x 18”) to massive (8 ft x 4 ft)!  At one point, I was working on four paintings at the same time for months.  Two commissions at same time became the norm. Sometimes I worked up to 14 hours a day. All of this in oil paint. My oil paintings are very time-intensive, and the details can be minute. Oil also takes far more time to dry than acrylic paint, especially when using bright, contrasting colors. It can look like mush if it’s not done correctly. It takes two to four months to create a commissioned painting, depending on the image and size. A huge, incredibly detailed painting of a dragon that required symbolic images integrated into the piece (8 ft x 4 ft) took me six months. I would work on one painting while the other one (or two or three) dried. Repeat. I have six big easels and a rolling chair!

Although a commission project is an exciting challenge, it’s also stressful!  So much goes into creating for another person. This is especially applicable to pets.  I need to create a piece that reflects the true personality and energy of each animal from a photo reference.  A painting of a wave needs to capture the motion and power of water reflected in the colors and composition.  Each commission, regardless of the subject, must have a powerful impact in terms of connecting the artwork to the client. It must surpass their expectations. The ‘WOW!’ factor of each painting is absolutely critical.  Creating a painting is incredibly personal.  It takes so much of your heart and soul, and the ever-constant morphing of the painting itself is immense.

For over two years, I worked on 16 commissions that came in from eight states, so I basically spent two solid years downstairs in my studio, only venturing out to get art supplies pre-ordered for curbside pickup. That’s an insane amount of artwork to create! Time stood still while I worked. “What do you mean it’s July?”, “Why do we need to get candy? What do you mean it’s October?” I might have slept 5-6 hours each night and often woke up at 2:00 in the morning to evaluate what I did the day before and what I needed to do in a few hours. My espresso machine is a goddess! But, as a result, I was able to really hone my skills, create amazing pieces, make my clients happy, and make decent money during such hard times. I also learned the hard way what is important to my mental and physical health to continue as an artist and gain an equilibrium in my personal life. My husband has been a rock and is an amazing person. His love, his steadfast belief in me and his ability make me laugh when I’m overwhelmed is phenomenal.

On a positive note, the pandemic altered the way that artists can get exposure and expand their careers. The visual arts segment adapted to create online platforms for competitions and promotion on a national and international scale.  Many famous galleries have online galleries now.

The online competitions and exhibitions draw artists from around the world with international juried panels. In fact, many of the most coveted exhibitions are the online international competitions.

International exhibitions in physical locations such as Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, London and so many more involve an enormous amount of organization, shipping, travel expenses, set up and the cost of the area to show your work.  It’s very expensive. The amount of work that is purchased may not cover the costs of anything!  The restrictions of Covid-19 made it even more difficult. Local galleries or locations for exhibitions were closed and many went out of business.

The online artworld is now one of the most important venues to show and promote your artwork. I’ve had people contact me from Toronto and Serbia, England, Italy, Moldova, as well as throughout the United States as a result. There is literally a world out there for artists these days with just about any media or technique! As always, you never know until you give it a shot.

It’s incredible to be accepted into any of these exhibitions, never mind win an award!  The variety and quality of the artwork is amazing. Since 2021, I’ve been accepted into competitions for exhibitions where artists submitted their work from 14 – 25 countries!  So far, I have been accepted into 17 international competitions and received 16 awards.  Many of the pieces have been commissions! Some with multiple awards. My clients are thrilled. I’m still stunned.

We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?

Work/Specialty:

My painting style would be within the realm of Fauvism which the use of unexpected, vivid color.  The content and subjects of my artwork reflect nature in its many facets, including the fascinating celestial bodies of the universe. My paintings have an energy to them using color. I mainly paint with oil because it brings luster to the piece, but I use acrylic on the abstract pieces including neon colors, metallics, metal foils or leaf and shimmery effects with a high gloss varnish. The bulk of my artwork is created through private commissions, which, for the most part, are pet portraits.

Sets me apart:

My artwork is bright! My intent is to portray the energy and impact of a subject through vibrant, dynamic color schemes, not necessarily to reproduce a solely realistic image. I visualize what I want the artwork to ‘feel like’ from the energy I interpret and then infuse that energy through color to create a ‘WOW’ factor. The artwork is meant to completely capture your attention, create a smile, and think ‘WOW!”. The power of unexpected color makes the paintings distinctive. If you say, “Wow!” or smile, I’ve created what I set out to do.

Most proud of:

Artistically, I am proud of the long way I have come as a self-taught artist and how my career has continually evolved. It’s still mind-blowing to have received international awards! I’m so grateful for the support and experiences I gained as an artist throughout the years. My career has ping-ponged all over the place and it has been a fabulous ride. It’s been scary, frustrating, exciting, fulfilling, surprising, and deep source of joy and contentment. It feels ‘right’ in my soul.

What matters most to you? Why?
The people who are dear to me are most important in life, especially my husband. He’s amazing! We’ve been together for 31 years and I’m so happy I get to spend my life with him (and our cats).  As you get older, you realize that quality of life is vitally important.  Life is precious and it’s important to recognize what really matters to you, what is holding you back, and what fulfills you as a person and go for it.  Be true to yourself.  If I hadn’t pursued art in my life, I’d be miserable and a completely different person. You never know until you try!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jewelconway.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jewelart_wowfactor 

Image Credits
Ben Alpher – photographer