Artist Jessica is helping people get their creative juices flowing
BALLYDESMOND-BASED ARTIST SETS UP PROJECT FOR OLDER PEOPLE COCOONED IN THEIR HOMES
AN art project created by Ballydesmond-based artists Jessica Baron is giving people cocooned in their homes a welcome opportunity to get their creative juices flowing.
Part of Jessica’s work as a professional artist involved offering art classes and workshops to, among others, local active retirement groups, all of which have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place.
With this in mind, Jessica has developed the aptly entitled ‘Painting Inside the Cocoon’ project, as a simple way to keep her students painting.
“I am a firm believer that Art contributes to well-being, but sometimes, the blank canvas is too intimidating to know where to start,” Jessica told The Corkman
The project provides participants an initial idea, reference images and a few tips to get them started.
“Considering that some people may have limited access or knowledge of technology, the project has to be easily printable, so family members and friends could drop or post them to their loved ones,” she explained.
With that in mind, Jessica created painting activities that are short, step-by-step and easy to follow with illustrations. Anyone interested, for themselves or someone else, can make contact and the activities will be sent via email, from where they can be viewed on a device or printed and used as a hard copy.
Jessica also offers her assistance and advice on work in progress or if anyone needs help sourcing materials when they are just beginning on their painting journey.
If readers would like to participate or have any questions, they can contact Jessica by email at jessicabaron@ or visit her website: www. jessicabaronartist.com.
Originally from Quebec in Canada, Jessica came to Ireland 15-years ago and is now living in Ballydesmond with her husband and their two children, Saskia (9) and Liam (7).
Having enjoyed oil painting for many years, she launched as a professional artist in 2016 and shares her time between teaching, exhibitions and painting commissions. Her work depicts the unspoiled rural landscape in textured colourful oil paint, capturing a brief moment when the light is just perfect.
With all her family back in Canada, Jessica is well used to keeping in touch via video chat, but COVID-19 means plans to travel home or have visitors are put on hold.
“My parents were planning a visit this year and my brother is due to get married in August, but the main thing for now is that everyone is healthy and safe” she said.
“These are strange times for everyone, my grand-mother is 94 and in a nursing home, it is worrying” Jessica added.
Looking on the bright side, with everyone staying home time difference is no longer an issue.
“I feel that we are actually even closer than before, and I enjoy being able to ‘drop in’ on my sister as often as I like,” she grinned.