ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Jennylynd James studied Food Science at McGill University, Canada and continued working in this field for over 15 years in Florida, California, the Republic of Ireland, the Caribbean, and Canada. In Ireland, Jennylynd discovered her hidden talent for drawing and painting through private instructors in Waterford, and was introduced to oil painting, portraiture and sketching. She uses the vivid colours of her heritage to influence her work. Jennylynd now lives in Bloor West Village, Toronto where she has embraced self expression in art as a new lifestyle. Her artwork is held in collections in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
All my life, I have been intrigued by colour, and observation of people and their interactions with each other. As a child, I remember sketching simple flowers and people on any surface as a favourite pastime. I stared with curiosity when visiting festivals, parks, the markets, and beaches. Art is like a religion for me. I draw inspiration from old photographs, videos, travel, and attending events. These photographs and postcards are used as a reference for my figurative work. I enjoy capturing people’s emotions with the stroke of a brush in oil and acrylic. Even my floral paintings evoke emotion and moods in the colour tones, shades, and angles used. I try to extract beauty in everyday objects and situations giving a unique character in my paintings. I want my work to evoke joy and goodwill in the observer.
AWARDS
Honourable mention award in the acrylic category at the 2015 Art in the Valley, Juried Fall Show of the Society of York Regional Artists (SOYRA), Aurora, Ontario.