A CONVERSATION WITH ARTIST JENNIFER BAIRD
To support her current exhibition ‘Reflected Light’ we asked Canberra Artist Jennifer Baird a series of questions about her Arts Practice. Her answers are generous and give a wonderful insight into the juggle of life and maintaining a professional arts practice. Thank you for your time Jennifer and congratulations on your current exhibition.
‘Reflected Light’, pays homage to the monumental artwork 'Skyspace', ‘Within Without’ by James Turrell in the forecourt of the NGA.
Through collage Jennifer has explored the ephemera of this work. The constantly changing light, shadows, reflections, sounds and shapes, through the seasons. Using found papers and collage Jennifer has constructed 12 works expressing her love for ‘Within Without’, in a minimal style with limited lines and colours to convey the simplicity of the Skyspace, a work whose simplicty belies its complications.
The exhibition is open Thursday - Sunday 10am - 4pm and online.
How would you describe your Arts Practice?
I am a professional artist working across 2D media, printmaking, painting, collage and mixed media. I began my career over 25 years ago at Bondi Beach markets, selling A4 pastel sketches, along came the gouache on paper seascapes and ‘chairguides’ that defined my arts practice for over a decade. Our move to Canberra 12 years ago saw changes in my subject, colours and mediums. A stillness has emerged in my work, some of my past work on paper looked like I was in a bit of a hurry. I love using a palette knife and oils on a canvas. Guiding the paint around like icing a cake. I have also started using ink in my mixed media works allowing the ink to do the work and make its own way around the paper or canvas. I think this shows a maturity in my work also developing the sense to step away from the artwork and not over work or think it. This exhibition expresses my love for collage using found papers. I have huge tower of fruit boxes, with my rainbow of collected papers.
Have you done any study?
I have a Bachelor of Design majoring in Fashion and Textiles from UTS. My 15 year old self wanted to be a fashion designer. The degree was the making of me. It was so hard and took me 6 years to complete. At the end of it I did NOT want to be a fashion designer. But I was introduced to screen printing on fabric. The passion for this reignited with our move to Canberra and finding the public access Megalo Print Studios where I now print on paper. I love the sound of the ink being pulled through the screen. I was definitely meant to be a printmaker. I also do lino printing in my studio.
Jennifer Baird’s Studio
What do you find most inspiring about your art space.
That the space under my house is mine, it is a no go zone for pets and unsupervised children. My kids do come in to do their own little projects, raiding my paint and collage boxes. The space is unusual because it has great natural light streaming through glass brick windows that were installed by the previous owners. Most of my studio is subterranean and is very cool in Summer but I need a heater in Winter. It is also a pretty generous size allowing me to very recently, tackle large canvases. I love the smell of my studio. It smells of paints and the promise of making art. I also have a TV in my studio and have always had one for the last 20 years when I moved into home studios. I don’t know, I just like the random shows that make background sounds.
What does a day in your studio look like?
I work during the day, definitely during school hours. If I’m lucky, I get back down there after 4pm. The demands of a very busy family life do curtail my art practice at home, I don’t ever have a ‘day in the studio’ I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. My studio time is peppered with appointments and activities for children and some fur babies that need attention. I also have some yoga time that keeps me well and focused, so I utilise my studio time very carefully. It’s also why I love printing at Megalo so much. It’s a dedicated time to make art. I do editions of ten, which go on to form the background and structure of my latest mixed media work. I have also used some screen printed papers in the collages of ‘Reflected Light’. Sometimes I am very time poor and getting paint on a brush seems like a million miles away, but that is ok. I know my studio always waits for me. Sometimes I have the luxury to paint in oils or make collages. It just depends on what is happening in my life.
How have you grown as an artist through your career?
After a failed attempt in a textile design studio when I finished Uni. I wheeled a little trolley down to Bondi Markets. The first artwork I ever sold was an A4 pastel sketch of a badly drawn boy holding a surfboard, for $5. So ‘Bondi Surfer’ became all the encouragement I needed to keep going. I remember that sale so vividly, I almost fell over when she said ‘I’ll have that one.’ I would say my initial work was very naïve which may have been me at the time too. While Uni had smashed a lot of the ‘country girl moves to the city’, out of me. There were elements of my art practice that were definitely expressing the free abandon of someone that really didn’t have a clue. 25+ years later I look back at that time so grateful that I was lucky enough to experience it. I worked very hard and was very prolific. There were some years in the mid to late 90’s that I produced 1000 artworks a year. These are now popping up all over the place. I would love to say in famous auction houses but usually in the local Salvos, even thrift stores overseas. I do know that some artwork of mine is deeply cherished and was also the inspiration for people to start an art collection. I did have an ethos of affordable art and it allowed me to not only pay the bills but to travel the world. I am truly grateful for that. Then along came the wish fulfilled, a deep desire to have a family. My world and my art now aligns with Marcus and my 3 kids Ben, Imogen and Lillian. It’s a big messy creative life. I suppose I do find solace in my art, to find some stillness and order, with the development of some very minimal works. Just completed at Megalo is an edition of white rectangles on white paper. I love that with my age this has occurred, I don’t think I’ve got a gouache painting left in me.
What drives you to be a working artist?
I love what I do and feel blessed that I have this life. I am very grateful to have an audience for my art. In this modern world there is a lot to look at. I believe there is no greater accolade that an artist can receive than someone placing your work in their home. I also love the fact that artists don’t retire, that we keep making art until we die. I am inspired by many artists in history who overcame the limitations of their age to keep creating. Matisse, Monet, and our own Charles Blackman who even with dementia was encouraged to make marks every day with his family around him.
How did you stay focused and original when you started out.
Discovering Yoga was life changing for me and occurred about the same time I began my career. It is still in my life today. Keeping original is probably harder now then it was 25 years ago, as there are many trends in art today, especially on social media and I love being on Instagram, which in its own way has been a helpful tool for my work. Remaining true to my artistic ability, that I have a clearly defined and recognisable style, although the minimal artwork might throw a curve ball.
What are the challenges facing artists and how do you overcome them?
When I started out there was no internet, no social media. I think a challenge today is to cut through all the noise that drowns out an artistic voice. There are so many so called ‘opportunities’ for artists. That prove to be just a rouse to take money and credit from practicing artists. Galleries that take too much commission, online scams, social media scams to be ‘featured’ for a fee. I’ve fallen for all of them and have learnt the hard way, which is the only way to learn. There must be a naïve country girl still in my 50 year old brain saying ‘yes that is great idea’. Let’s drive all over the countryside to exhibit work in all sorts of random places and yes let’s send a bunch of art to London to only get one grainy photograph and damaged work on return…yes that’s great idea. I don’t have an answer as to what works and what doesn’t. I have had some real flops and some great successes. I try to learn and not make the same mistake and to keep on making art. I can definitely give advice to people about which Instagram scams to avoid. I think a big challenge for artists is to overcome the artistic ego, it is very flattering to be sought after asked to exhibit here or send work there. I would say tread carefully. Don’t say ‘yes’ to everything that comes your way. It’s taken me a long time to work that one out.
How do you stay inspired?
I would love to say I am reading this great author and listen to classical music, but I don’t its commercial light filler all the way. My bipolar brain needs to be switched off regularly as it absorbs so much of the world around me. I find it very hard to concentrate on the written word. I do stay inspired by regular trips to the NGA, Portrait Gallery and other local and interstate exhibitions. I love a good lecture at an art gallery. I often go to workshops held around Canberra by local Canberran artists, such ones held by Sally Blake and Julian Laffan to name a few. I have done a couple of workshops at Megalo too. I love trips to the coast with my family, both inspiring and restful times away. I am constantly inspired by the light and landscape of Canberra and its surrounds. My oil paintings are inspired by the dawn train journey to Sydney. I am inspired by the local co-op Trove where I have been a member for 6 years. Joining was life changing. It was like finding my tribe of like-minded creatives. I am inspired by many artists here in Canberra. There is a rich creative energy in Canberra.
Do you have any advice for young artists?
Number one, believe in yourself and your talent. There are many pathways to find your way as an artist. Some are conventional some are not. As a young artist, social media will probably play a huge part in creating a platform and audience for your art. Get some visual arts training whether at Uni, CIT/TAFE or a private online course. You will always be a student. Enter some art prizes, don’t be disheartened by the rejections, you only need one ‘finalist’ selection, it is a major confidence building exercise. Enter inclusive exhibitions or ‘Call for Artists’, where every entry is exhibited, there are bunches of these and are a great way to be in a show for a small entry fee. You never know who is going to see your art. Set a goal to exhibit in a physical gallery, group shows are a great way to share the costs involved, it looks great on your CV that you have exhibited. Accept that most careers in the arts are supported by part time jobs (this was advice from Archibald winner Wendy Sharpe) These jobs can be found in the art sector, so they add to your knowledge of the arts. Practice your art skills, daily if you can. There are all sorts of art challenges out there, like drawing a day for 100 days. Donate your work to charity fund raisers, this creates very real benefits for you and the organisation you are supporting. There is a myriad of online platforms that represent artists. Have your work on all of them, while the uploading to several sites can be time consuming, you will make sales. Buying art online is part of the world today. Don’t give up, there will be critics and even insults that come your way. I have heard them all, but to hear the beautiful affirming words you will hear some not so nice stuff, just ignore those whose buttons you have just pushed. And finally, work your arse off, you are your own boss, no one else is going to make this happen.
