ABOUT

When I was young and studying at art school, I thought the purpose of art was to express angst and suffering. My paintings had names like, “Howling at the Moon“ and were full of dark foreboding. There is certainly a place for that, but for me, I couldn’t have been more mistaken. Now that I am more advanced in years, I realize that my purpose in art is to express joy: the joy of imagination, of not knowing what is coming next; the joy of the beauty and surprise of nature; the joy of relationship, mine with the clay, the pieces with each other; the joy of realizing that I am just an empty vessel allowing all that is given me to flow out through my hands. Sometimes the joy is darker, because it goes deep. If my work makes you happy, or cracks you up, or invites you in, then that is enough. This doesn’t mean that the work is not serious, but I hope the love is there to see.

The work is contemplative because it is my form of meditation. I watch the clay and see what happens. I am open to the suggestions of spirit. I like to work quietly and alone—though a laughter-filled studio is always a welcome break!

Thanks for dropping by the Blue Room.

Juliana Jensen, artist

Marin County, California

New York City, New York

Jjensen360@aol.com