Interview with Jill Reynolds
Gallery on 10th has a wide variety of local and regional artists from all backgrounds. In an effort to get to know some of our artists we have conducted interviews to better understand their backgrounds, passions and love of art. Below is an interview with Jill Reynolds who has been a member of the gallery since 2020 and has a passion for color and creating. She is a self taught artist and enjoys exploring different mediums.
GOT: Hello and thanks for spending time with us today, How and when did you get started as an artist? JR: When I was just a little girl, my favorite gifts to get at Christmas were coloring books and “new” crayons. While I colored, my tongue would stick out of my mouth and I recall my Grandpa trying to grab it while I concentrated so hard on my page. I took coloring very seriously. In school when I was able to choose elective courses I always took art classes, any kind available. I doodled and drew constantly. It wasn’t until I was 48 years old that I decided to try painting on canvas. Not knowing where to start and materials needed, I took an evening painting class at Columbus College and made the decision to work with oils. I started my first painting in class and finished it weeks and weeks later at home. It was then I realized I had a bit of talent. I have been painting ever since but did not start selling my work until just a few years ago.
GOT: What does art mean to you? JR: Everything. I see art and apply art in everything. The way I dress, the way I lay out my garden, the way I decorate my home. It’s all about the color, the design, the contrast and texture. Art is the greatest outlet for me to express myself and it gives me a satisfaction and sense of pride in all that I do. I cannot settle on just one form of art because one idea leads to another and another until sometimes I am so far from where I started but I can always just go back and pick it up. It means freedom and flow. Art challenges me and when I have completed a new challenge, I am emboldened to try new things. I tried my first portrait of a person recently and cannot believe I was so afraid to attempt it. Now when someone asks me if I can paint this or do that I tell them “I haven’t before but I feel confident that I probably can.” People tell me all the time “you should be an artist” I use to reply, “I’m not dead yet” but now I simply say, “I am an artist”
GOT: Who are your biggest influences, In art or your life? JR: My Mother. She is gone now and somehow I did not realize just how much she influenced me in this direction. It was so clear everywhere. She taught me how to needlepoint, cross stitch, crochet, knit, embroider...all forms of art. As I child we made potholders, colored eggs, decorated cookies and cakes, worked puzzles and painted so many paint by number. Because she did all crafts, toll painting, oil painting, and had her own ceramic/plaster business and taught painting classes I was exposed to it every day. I was a part of all of it and had I not had a mother who was an artist, I may have missed out on sooo much. Even after she had a stroke, she still painted on rocks for the yard. She was amazing and it was because of her I decided to take that one class at night and try my hand at painting on canvas.
GOT: What equipment or tools do you find are invaluable to you? JR: I love my pallet knife!! Doing a painting with just my pallet knife is crazy fun.
Dawn dishwashing soap!! Because I really have not had any training in supplies, cleanup, or proper way to care for my brushes and I do not buy expensive brushes, I use Dawn dishwashing soap to clean my brushes and I don’t have to deal with the smell of solvents and such. Who knew?
I have also just discovered the value of a nice slanted brush. Makes hair so much easier!
GOT: What are you working on these days? JR: Recently I started Acrylic Pouring, a painting medium also referred to as fluid art. More abstract than what I have done in the past, but totally satisfying. I think of this medium as controlled chaos. While the application of the paint to my canvas is a bit reckless, I still have final say in the composition. It also allows one to decorate their space with color and style without having to select a particular theme. It is wildly fun and rich with colors and movement.
GOT: What subject matter do you most enjoy doing? JR: Landscape, trees, water, sunrises and sunsets. However...I have really enjoyed doing animal portraits of late and have made so many people happy to bring pets to life on canvas. I also have so much more to try. I want to try water colors. I love the effect of water colors and the way they just touch the canvas with a hint of color. As previously mentioned, one thing leads to another and I don’t think I will ever just settle in and do a particular theme or subject matter or even style. I am all over the map when it comes to art. Besides painting, I hand etch glass pictures and glassware with a Dremel tool and when I have time, I weld artwork, making figures and tables and other fun stuff.
GOT: Other than being an artist, what other jobs have you held? JR: I worked for a time at my Mother’s shop, teaching children and adults how to paint ceramics and painting pieces for resale in her store. After high school I worked a little while at a fast food place in my home town and then got my first job at a bank in that same home town as a teller. I moved south to Columbus and began a 20 year career at Synovus working for CB&T in a wide range of roles there. Fourteen years ago I opened my own business, totally out of my comfort zone and still own and operate Hamilton Outdoor Supply Co., a Feed and Seed, Lawn, garden and gift store in Hamilton, GA. Here, at my store, I garden, raise goats, chickens and dogs and do my artwork on sight behind my counter.
GOT: How has being a member of GALLERY ON 10th been beneficial? It has given me a different venue to display my artwork to another audience. While I have sold a lot of my artwork from my own storefront, I am limited to showing my work to only my customers. Being at the Gallery puts me out there with others like me who are local, talented folks that do not necessarily make a living at being an artist....yet.
Thanks for your time, Jill.
You can reach Jill at hamiltonoutdoorsupply@gmail.com