"On Being Present..."

“On Being Present...”

All new work by watercolor artist Judy Jaaskelainen

at Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery. 

Opening celebration: Saturday Aug. 3^rd, 5-8 P.M.

 

“My best artwork is not usually inspired by going off and seeking ‘something to paint’”, explains watercolorist Judy Jaaskelainen, “They are images that I happen upon and have the urge to stop time or somehow cause those moments to pass more slowly so that I can fully appreciate the experience.”

This is what happened to Ms. Jaaskelainen several Octobers ago while exploring the ruins at Canyon de Chelly in far Northeastern Arizona, “ I was walking up to get a closer look at the base of the magnificent Spider Woman Rock.  As I approached it a small whirlwind traveled across my path toward the stately pinnacle and it lifted and swirled the autumn yellow cottonwood leaves in a spiral that danced around the base of the rock. I stood mesmerized. I have not yet painted that picture but it is high on my list.”

 

Canyon de Chelly has provided  inspiration for the artist before. “In February in 1995, I was in the canyon with a group of photographers.  It was snowing softly and everyone had their light meters out searching for an image to photograph in the low-light conditions.  I did that too, for a few minutes but then with my camera to my eye I happened to focus on all of the other photographers in their bright colored parkas, standing in various poses hovered over their equipment to keep the snow from landing on it.  It was unexpected and was great fun to use that composition in one of my watercolor paintings later that I titled, ‘The Eye of the Beholder’.”

Ms. Jaaskelainen’s open-hearted way of seeing is the key to her art.

“At one of our local Farmer’s Markets one evening a young woman passed by dancing to the music of Dave Rentz and John Ziegler,” recalls Jaaskelainen, “She had on a colorful cap and bell-bottom jeans.  As usual, I had my camera with me and took a photo of her.  Years later I was attending one of Patty Mikles’ Advanced Watercolor classes at Yavapai College and we were toying with ‘distorting the perspective of common subjects’.  Looking through my resource photos I came upon that image and another of a clarinet player from Flagstaff who had performed at one of the Opening Receptions at our gallery.  He was hunkered down near the stairwell with his clarinet in his hand. My paintings ‘Old Town Dancer’, and ‘Sox to Match’, both, were so much fun to create and actually won awards in juried shows later that year.”

The artist finds inspiration in the day-to-day scenery of her historic Clarkdale, Arizona neighborhood. “My neighbor, Kahlil has a collection of the retro-metal lawn chairs.  One day while walking my dog, Gus, I glanced over at Kahlil’s backyard and saw he had all of his old chairs lined up along one wall of his house.  It was winter but the sun was bright and it created fascinating tangled shadows on the ground and wall from the tubular frames of the chairs. Of course I had my camera with me, took a few photos. My watercolor, ‘Warm Winter Sun’, another award winner, was the result.”

 

The new paintings Ms. Jaaskelainen is presenting as the featured artist at Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery Saturday August 3 thru October 3, 2013, are more examples of her experience of life happening on a daily basis. The artist enjoys scenes that cause her to want to stop,“ take a deep breath,  and savor a moment here and there.” She extends her thanks  to Cornville wood artist Phil Wright  for creating some of the beautiful frames used in the exhibit .

   A new painting, “Moon-gazer”, is from photos taken of a young woman who was wearing a lovely beaded head cover, bent over looking at some piece of jewelry that caught her eye at the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery. “I asked if I could photograph her and she said, ‘Sure!’  Sorting through my resources over the past few months I knew when I looked at that photograph again that I would have fun composing a painting using that image. It was! Painting each bead was like a meditation… very calming…. And the moon…..well, I love the moon.”

    In addition to her new work at the Cooperative Gallery, Judy Jaaskelainen is also an participating member of the Verde Artist Challenge.  “I was invited to join 24 other artists in April, to do a three day kayak trip down the Verde River, arranged by the Verde Valley Land Preservation and funded by a grant.  One of the goals was for the artists to develop an emotional connection to our beautiful river and be inspired to create art that exemplifies our experience. The hope is that the persons who will see the exhibit of the “river art” will also develop a connection and sensitivity to the beauty and importance of all rivers, the Verde River in particular.”  “A River Runs Through Us”, a traveling exhibit featuring the art inspired by the river and the kayak trip, will be seen throughout Arizona.  The art will be available for purchase through an online auction with the proceeds going toward further river preservation efforts.  The paintings, sculptures, and photographs are scheduled to be presented to the public at the group’s opening reception Saturday, July 27 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Manheim Gallery in Old Town Cottonwood. The show will be on display there through the end of August.

“On Being Present…” is dedicated to Ms. Jaaskelainen’s mother.

“She not only taught me to walk and talk, but also to ‘see’,” explains the artist, “She would be 100 years-old this year, in November. I miss her every day.”
Opening Reception is on Saturday Aug. 3^rd, 5-8 P.M. at Jerome Artist’s Cooperative Gallery, 502 Main Street, Jerome, Arizona 86331 (928-639-4276)  www.jeromecoop.com

This exhibit can also be seen daily during regular gallery hours from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. thru Oct. 3^rd, 2013.

"One Woman Show" October 24-Dec. 3rd- New works by featured artist Judy Jaaskelainen

Clarkdale resident, Judy Jaaskelainen, a popular watercolor artist, and member of the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery since 2002, presents a brand new body of art in her upcoming “One Woman Show.” The featured show opens October 24th, and runs through December 3rd.

Jaaskelainen, a vibrant spirit, grew up in California, and was young mother of 3 before she was out of her teen years. “At 64, I am the matriarch of a large and loving family. It is rare to find a family so close and dedicated to maintaining the strong bonds that unite us. We are always present for one another in crisis.”
Always artistically inclined, Jaaskelainen began painting seriously in the 1970's while living in Southern California and recuperating from spinal surgery. “My painting experience up to that time was in oils and acrylics on canvas. I began to visit galleries, art museums and exhibits and developed a deep appreciation for the art of watercolor. In essence, I was hooked. I located watercolor artists in the area whose work I felt strongly about and studied with them to develop my skills”.

Jaaskelainen graduated from Loma Linda University with a degree in Occupational Therapy. “I specialized in the treatment of patients with Spinal Cord Injury, Arthritis, and Children with Physical Disabilities.”
She is a juried member of Northern Arizona Watercolor Society, and also a member of the Arizona Watercolor Association, and Watercolor West.

"I have been painting in watercolor for over 20 years. I love the transparent properties of watercolor paints and how I can let the medium ‘do it’s thing’ on wet paper which sometimes feels like the painting is creating itself,” she says with her typical bright-eyed enthusiasm.

Where does Jaaskelainen gather her inspiration? “The natural beauty of Southwest, beautiful people in my life, beautiful animals and my sense of humor,” she says, “I usually have 2-5 paintings going at the same time and the subject matter varies, so I have more than one palette going most of the time.”

“Some of my paintings are like children showing-off for their mother with bright, bold colors that shout, ‘Hey, look at me! See how my colors bounce off the paper!’ Other of my works are tranquil and serene.”

The opening reception for “One Woman Show” is Saturday, October 24th at the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery, 502 Main Street from 5:30pm-8:00pm. Refreshments and food will be served. The show will run through December 3rd, and will also be the featured show during next month’s ARTwalk, November 7th

The Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery is open daily from 10 a.m-6 p.m. and until 8 p.m. during openings and art walks. For more information, call 928-639-4276 or visit http://www.jeromeartistscoop.com/ .

In Her Image: Honoring the Vision & Courage of Women • Judy Jaaskelainen & Michele Cokl Naylor

May 13, 2006 - June 21, 2006

Watercolorist, Judy Jaaskelainen, and doll-maker/collage artist extraordinaire, Michele Cokl Naylor, presented all new works in their exhibit, "In Her Image, Honoring the Vision and Courage of Women". The Opening Reception was held during a full moon on Mother's Day Eve. The public was invited to come enjoy the artwork, celebrate Mother's Day and the contributions of women.

Images of women in Jaaskelainen's art are not a new facet. Some of her most notable pieces have been of or about women, (tempered, at times, with a bit of humor). Her passion and respect for Mother Earth, World Peace, and Human Rights has only grown stronger as she moves into each new decade of her life. She is astounded by the achievements of women, in particular, and their determination to make real their visions for a better world, usually against great odds.

Women's history is rich with examples of the courage and creativity women have employed to gain the right to vote, to aquire property, the right to have reign over their own bodies, and as in the case of 2005 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Wangari Maathai, the wisdom and love to create sustainable development that enhances democracy and peace efforts for Kenya and all of Africa, with her Greenbelt Movement.

Says Jaaskelainen, "My personal history of women whose lives continue to illuminate mine include my mother who had to quit school at the age of 14 to go to work and help provide food and shelter for herself and her seven siblings, my daughters and friends who have excelled in the role of single parenthood without financial nor any other support from their children's fathers, and my sister, cousins and nieces whose dedication to the children in our family helps to keep the spirit of my mother alive.

I have the privilege of having 2 young women in my life who believe so much in their own passion for Women's Rights and for the Environment that they have dedicated years of their lives to study and learn 'more than enough' to make a difference in the world as we know it. And they do.

I have women friends who have survived unspeakable tragedies and who have gone on to counsel others in an effort to bring forth light and understanding.

I trust the women in my life to listen with their hearts and souls. I know that our bonds are universal and indestructable.

My work in this show is dedicated to Michelle M. Weil, PhD., without whom there would be no show."

Photos from the opening: