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Learn, discuss, and talk shop with Toledo-area artists. In partnership with Toledo Creatives.
Growing up on a ‘dead end’ road in the county; NWOhio-native artist, Jennifer Sowders, grew up spending a lot of time studying nature and it’s indelible thread is noted within her body of work.
Jennifer is a 1994 BFA graduate from the Columbus College of Art and Design. She is a Signature member and Trustee in the Ohio Watercolor Society, Associate of The National Watercolor and American Watercolor Societies; on the board of the Fostoria Area Arts Council, member of the Ohio Art League and is in several local arts-groups.
She gained entrance into The 2020 National Watercolor Society’s (NWS) Annual Member Show, as well as NWS 2020 “50 Stars” Exhibition. The latter being quite an honor as two artworks were chosen from each state-level watercolor society to represent their state. Jennifer has won a 2021 National Bryn Du Award, continued acceptance in National shows and has received a landscape commission from the University of Dayton.
Although rural, Jennifer opens up her studio: "MONgallery" to the public on MONdays, encouraging visitors to enjoy the woodlands, fields, stream and farm animals along the way. Her recent works are landscapes, on the synthetic paper called “Yupo"; which helps her inviting scenes glow with invitation.
She lives in Fostoria, Ohio with husband, Gary and has 3 sons.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
My love of landscape has developed from the discipline of plein air painting. For me, the immersion ‘in’ the landscape is transportive. Although my works are primarily created in the studio, when I hear my viewers say “oh, I want to be there”, I know that I’ve tapped into their need for 'immersion' as well.
I am attracted to lush landscapes whether 'in the wild' or structured gardens.
I am attracted to the vibrancy of color and the luminous nature that Yupo paper affords. It also enables me to explore textures, be bold, and achieve the ‘lush’ escape I’m going for. I am drawn not only to the beauty within a scene, but am careful to include beckoning elements of light/shadow, repetition and depth. I am moved by Impressionism; by exploring ways of creating depth and texture; inspired of John Singer Sargent’s looseness and yet clarity on the details.. and intrigue or story-telling elements in my work. Pathways in my landscapes are therefore common-place.
Within these lush scenes, multiple views of an area become a point of interest for me. I’ve done as many as 6 paintings inspired from one park alone.
Although I’m not doing diptychs or triptychs, I am understanding the grandeur within a microcosm, like Monet and his repetition of waterlilies. In just a few steps a scene can change so dramatically, so I am drawn to keep the area but with a different view.
MONgallery.us
FB: www.facebook.com/jensowdersart
IG: instagram.com/mongallery.us
