JANE JONES
Bountiful Gardens
Each still life Jane Jones paints begins long before she puts oil to canvas. It starts at the literal ground level with the gardens she and her husband have grown for the past 25 years. Found on her property are more than 60 rose bushes, lilies and irises, which all appear in her compositions that are marked by complex details, contemporary arrangements and vibrant colors.
“Part of what makes the painting experience so rich is that I work with the plants from the roots up,” Jones says. “We plant them, giving them the best chance possible to grow, and then tend and pray.”
Jones lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado where the climate conditions often present unique challenges in gardening, adding another level of awe to her finished works of art. “The soil is terrible, so it has to be replaced; the sun is gorgeous, except when it is so intense that it burns the
flowers and leaves; and sometimes we have gentle rainy days, and sometimes we get hail that shreds,” she explains. “And with climate change we are seeing more of the extremes, making the plants and flowers even more precious to me.”
Through her gardening, Jones says she is more mindful of the fleeting moments of beauty and the flowers have become symbols of what nature provides to the world. She even finds beauty in less than optimal growing seasons when the weather or daily schedules interfere with tending to the gardens, because she knows that once fall and winter pass she will have another chance to cultivate her yard.
The properties of the vegetation also catch her attention, allowing her to create dynamic visual elements in her paintings. “I am fascinated and enchanted by how light moves through and around flower petals,
something that I appreciate so much when I am painting. It’s those special visual treats that I want to share with viewers,” she says. “It is incredible to go to my gardens and know that I am going to find gorgeous flowers to work with. Sometimes when I see a bud opening, I check it frequently so that I can use it at its peak. If I see a plant that needs some help, I can do so right away.”
When beginning a new painting, Jones sometimes has a composition in mind and other times the flowers lead her to the outcome. “I photograph my flower setups in my backyard,” she explains. “I can plan just a few compositions, and then several hours later, with an amazing number of things like glass and drapery carried to the backyard, and the sun setting, I’m done. Creativity is an interesting companion. Sometimes it has to be coaxed and lured, sometimes it is bouncing around and in the process it’s a fantastic ride that challenges time and space constraints.”
Beginning January 11, art patrons can see Jones’ latest creations in a solo exhibition at Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona. The show will hang through February 4.