Featured Artist JJ Jacobs presents her delightful abstract work. See more from this artist by visiting her website.
My name is Judy Jacobs (“JJ”) and I’m an abstract painter and glass artist in Northern California. As a very young child, I knew I wanted to be an artist when I grew up but opted to go into the real estate industry instead. In 1995 and after many years of working as the broker and partner in a large property management firm, I literally burned out and took 8 months off work to recuperate.
With a forced vacation and “time on my hands,” I started taking some art classes at the local college and began painting again for the first time in years. As I poured an ocean of pent-up emotions onto the canvasses, I slowly began my healing process and watched the progression as my dark and gloomy paintings ultimately morphed into colorful and happy expressions of healthy joy.
In 1999, I joined a small commercial real estate development firm where I oversaw the various projects as they were being built. I loved everything about the building process, and enjoyed putting my own creative touches into the finished projects including creating and hanging my own artworks into the new lobbies and offices.
Last year after a declining economy and a threat of another bout of burnout, I decided to leave the real estate development world to concentrate on my art.
Having a business background has really helped with the marketing of my art. I remain connected with my real estate contacts and stay aware of the new developments happening in my area in hopes they may need art for their projects. I work with interior designers, property managers and developers to create art for their available spaces and recently started a company called Original Art for Rent that lets businesses and homeowners rent art from me and other local artists I contract with.
My style of art is called “abstract expressionism” which basically means my designs are created intuitively from my feelings. While the majority of my work is non-objective, I do incorporate quite a few cityscapes, houses and structures in my work and use lots of color and texture.
My goal is to make affordable art that makes a joyful statement and gives my collectors a colorful, bold and vibrant environment to thrive in.
JJ Jacobs invites you to follow her on Facebook.
Carolyn,
I really enjoyed reading and seeing JJ’s paintings. Such color and energy! Makes me want to go paint right now! When something moves you to the point to take action, like go paint; I love when that happens – don’t you?
Thank you for all you do to support artists.
Allison Reece – artist
Asheville, NC
Thanks, Allison – I truly love JJ’s work too. Could definitely see it hanging in my house!!
Thank you for the kind comments, Allison & Carolyn — my paintings are expressions of my thoughts and emotions and it makes my heart sing with joy when others react so positively to my art. Thank you!!
I love JJ’s use of color and sense of proportions! Each piece seems to tell a story.
And I find it inspiring how she’s brought her business knowledge to her art.
Thank you, Karen – there is indeed a story in every painting I create, and I love it when people find their own stories in the same painting.
Nice, nice work! It’s difficult to do an abstract that talks – very inspirational 🙂
you are an inspiration! I’m a furniture rep for a manufacturer, transitioning to full time artist…sooner than later, I hope. trying to figure out how to market my work or what products to develop. If you have any feedback, it’ll be most appreciated. Thanks, Lauren.
Thanks Lauren & Alex! I appreciate the feedback 🙂 Lauren — as for figuring out what products to develop, I always say make whatever makes your heart sing. When you make art from the heart, people take notice. You’ll find these pieces will be the ones that sell, whereas the work made because you think it’s what others want will be the ones that sit on the shelf collecting dust. Just keep making those heart pieces and sooner or later you’ll have a cohesive collection that you can market to the masses if that’s what you want to do. Seeing that you’re already in the business, you probably have access to connections and maybe putting together a portfolio of work to show them might spur some interest. Whatever you decide, best of luck to you!!