From New York Beginnings to California Dreams
Jennifer Bain‘s journey into the art world began at The Rudolph Steiner School in New York City, where she was first introduced to art as a spiritual practice. This unique educational environment, with its strong emphasis on mysticism and artistic expression, left a lasting impression on her. The transition from New York to Los Angeles during her high school years brought significant changes and challenges, but also new opportunities. In Los Angeles, Bain attended The Film Actor’s Workshop at the Burbank Studios, where she realized her true passion lay not in acting, but in the visual arts.
After graduating high school, Bain sought a practical yet creative path, earning an Associate of Arts degree in Fashion Design. However, a severe illness that nearly claimed her life became a turning point. During her recovery, she decided to fully embrace her passion for visual arts. She moved to Northern California and pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the California College of the Arts, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute. These formative years were marked by experimentation and growth, laying the foundation for her future career.
Post-graduate life saw Bain immersed in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area arts community. She juggled various roles, including working at Levi Strauss & Co., teaching aerobic dance, and developing her painting skills. Living in an old paint factory surrounded by a creative community of artists, musicians, and performers, Bain honed her craft. This period of intense artistic exploration and skill development eventually led her to the commercial gallery world, where she established herself as a full-time artist in 1994.
Jennifer Bain: The Evolution of an Artistic Style
Bain’s artistic journey is marked by a commitment to painting in series, with each series spanning five to ten years and exploring various styles and themes. Her early works in the 1980s reveal a fascination with color and organic forms, using grids and tree branches to create dimension and texture. Transitioning to oil on canvas, she incorporated wax medium to add depth, evolving her technique and exploring new artistic avenues.
In the 1990s, Bain returned to acrylic paints, delving into abstract representations of landscapes and emotional expressions influenced by Taoist and Buddhist philosophies. This decade of work was characterized by vibrant color fields and abstract landscapes, reflecting her meditative approach to art. Around 2003, Bain’s focus shifted again, this time towards narrative descriptions and botanical forms, blending representation and abstraction in compositions reminiscent of film strips.
Throughout her career, Bain has been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of her artistic expression. Her work consistently explores new themes and techniques, reflecting her dynamic approach to art. Each phase of her career builds upon the previous one, creating a rich tapestry of evolving styles and subjects that capture her creative journey.
Crafting the Perfect Workspace
For Jennifer Bain, an ideal workspace is crucial to her creative process. She emphasizes the importance of white walls, good lighting, and organization in her studio, which is separate from her home but conveniently located on her property. This physical separation between her living and working spaces allows her to maintain a focused and disciplined approach to her art, free from distractions.
Bain’s dedication to her craft is evident in her daily routine. She works almost every day, maintaining a strict mindset that prioritizes productivity and creativity. Listening to podcasts and music in the studio provides background ambiance without causing distraction. This blend of discipline and inspiration is key to her ability to consistently produce meaningful and impactful work.
Having grown up in a family of artists, Bain was deeply influenced by her parents. Her father was an actor, and her mother was a versatile artist, primarily a painter. This upbringing instilled in her the realities of a creative life, emphasizing the importance of dedication to the artistic process rather than focusing solely on external success. This philosophy continues to guide her, allowing her to trust her instincts and pursue her vision with confidence.
Jennifer Bain: Transformative Art and Mediums
Jennifer Bain’s artistic journey has seen her explore various mediums, each contributing to her growth and evolution as an artist. Initially dedicated to oil paints, she was forced to switch to acrylics in the 1990s due to her late husband’s severe allergies. This change proved transformative, expanding her artistic possibilities and accelerating her exploration of new techniques. Acrylics allowed her to experiment more freely, opening up new avenues for creative expression.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bain rediscovered her love for sculpture, creating soft sculptures with a sewing machine. This period of experimentation harkened back to her graduate school days when she engaged with multiple mediums, including painting and sculpture. Additionally, Bain is an accomplished printmaker, owning her own printing press and incorporating this skill into her artistic repertoire.
A specific piece of artwork that holds special meaning for Bain is inspired by her experience of seeing Jennifer Bartlett’s exhibition at Paula Cooper Gallery in New York. This encounter profoundly affected her, resonating with her as a young painter. The direct and palpable connection she felt to Bartlett’s work continues to inspire her, highlighting the importance of artistic expression and the intimate dialogue between artist and viewer. Bain’s dream project involves exploring large-scale, digitally created painting projections, a testament to her enduring commitment to innovation and artistic exploration.
