This month’s featured artist, Marie Jackson, has a talent for telling tales of the human experience  with every stroke of her paintbrush. Taking inspiration from multiple facets of her own heritage, travels and relationships Marie does a beautiful job creating work that lifts the veil on our own memories and dreams alike. 

Marie Jackson | Oil paint and mixed media artist

• How would you describe your work? 

I use classical oil paint techniques on various surfaces ranging from the standard canvas to recycled cardboard beer cartons. I love to work with oil paints because of the nature of the medium: translucent layers upon layers can give my work a beautiful glow, which cannot be accomplished by other mediums. I describe my colorwork as tangy, creamy, and spicy.

• What influences your art?

My typical subject matter is motherhood, children, womanhood, individual people, or relationships between us. I hope my work stirs something in its viewers, like bringing back memories or opening the door to a daydream.

The important people in my life often inspire my artwork: my two daughters, my husband, my family and friends. I also call back to personal lived experiences, like jumping in puddles, North Carolina hills, beach trips, Tennessee back-roads, etc. My dad was in the military, so we traveled a lot, especially overseas (Italy, Japan, Korea). With my mom being from Mexico I often pull color and texture inspiration from my heritage and travel memories with her.

• How have you evolved, personally, as an artist?

I was born an artist, as we all are. But the first moment I realized “I want to be an artist,” at age nine, was when I completed a watercolor painting. Life ebbed and flowed, and many mediums have smeared my hands since then, but I still gravitate to paint. My pieces are ever evolving as I do. Usually I choose a topic or a material or a canvas-size that I’m not comfortable with and I tackle that. Whatever scares me the most at the time is what I lean into.

• How do you carve out time to be creative?

First off, I grant myself grace. Between being a mom, a wife, and full-time IT Project manager, finding time and energy to paint is a challenge. I’m coming out of a season where painting once a week was a win. My hope is that a new season is approaching with more days of paint on my weekly calendar. On the days I can’t break out the paint and current medium,  I spend time sketching both with pencil and on my tablet.

• What are you working on that excites you right now?

I’d love to find time to explore sensory art; touchable/textured 2D art, make-your-own-art (where the piece is interactive and can be modified by the viewer), scent or sound infused art. I’m also excited about every 2D painting I tackle, whether it be commission work or personally inspired.

• What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with fellow artists?

If you’re in a lull period, no matter how long it’s been, I pray you find the inspiration to pick up your tool again. Whatever life has given you in between art pieces, you can use it to inspire your next bout of creation.

If you are interested in learning more about this month’s artist, Marie Jackson, you can follow her on Instagram @mahree_ or TikTok @mariejacksonart. To inquire about commission work you may email mariejacksonart@gmail.com.