Blog
Why Do I Make This Choice?
December 01, 2011
Painting is a process, this may sound ridiculously simplistic, but it just is. Returning time and again to solve the unsolvable and to master a technique and language. Why? Why do we do it? The answers are different from artist to artist. I can only answer for me and sometimes I don’t have an answer other than, I am driven to do it. It’s all I can do, it’s all I am capable of doing. But the truth is – it is what I decide to do. I make a choice every day to stay and try to see clearer both what is there physically and what is in my heart, my mind’s eye, to read the vision of what I want to create and put it into paint. Again why? People are dying, starving, struggling and I am painting. It feels selfish at times but trust me when I say it’s not always a walk in the park. I don’t want to sound like I am a martyr painter but maybe it is the same thing that drove our first mathematicians to solve great theorems – it wasn’t always fun but the drive to solve it and come to the conclusion was so great that nothing else mattered. Shouldn’t other things matter? Shouldn’t it matter that there is a cause that needs a leader or groceries to buy or laundry to do? It should matter more than painting right? So when it doesn’t, a conflict erupts inside me so great. The conflict between being a provider and being a creator. Some folks say – Oh but you can bring your creativity into the home with your whole family, give examples of being creative in the kitchen, the garden and with laundry, playdates and homework. Nope. Sorry, not the same thing for me. I know what they mean, but it’s not the same thing. Creativity in the studio is for my personal satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment. It also gives me an unexplainable connection to an unseen unknown life force that fuels my energy and spirit. And THAT is what I can bring back into the home and family. Creativity in the studio, my life as an artist is a spring that I dip into that feeds my soul so that I can give back to my family and community and have something left for me. As I serve it and answer the call, it serves me.
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Castle as Canvas, Seoul, S. Korea 2011
June 30, 2011
In the Spring of 2011, I was asked to come to Seoul, S. Korea.
Chairman Park, was in the final stages of his greatest achievement, The Raum, “Social Venue”, a modern castle in the heart of downtown Seoul that would host the Country’s most prestigious events, from weddings to operas.
To give you an idea of the power of Chairman Park, when he bought the land for development, in the heart of Seoul, the transit authority began construction on a subway connection to his block. His residential project, 10 years prior was Traumhaus. It is the most expensive place to live in the Country and I was commissioned for that as well. This was my third trip to work with this esteemed developer and visionary.
This undertaking stretched me in every possible way. Not the least of which was the answer to the question, “How am I going to demonstrate a technique that is repeatable, yet unique to each room and can be taught to their painters in 3 weeks?”
The first week was spent trying everything out and seeing what worked for the scale and materials we were painting on. I led a team of 6 painters, with 300,000 square feet of walls, doors and ceilings to consider.
Throughout 3 weeks, every medium and almost every tool I had ever used was implemented; pure tint colors, 
dry pigment, acrylic, latex, oil color, UTC, Japan colors, mineral spirits, wax, plaster, stucco, sprayers, rollers, sponges, brushes, sandpaper, steel wool, rags, gold leaf, metallic paint, putty, spatula, palette knife, scraper, trowel, chisel. Don’t forget the towering scaffolds.
It was incredibly hard work but more satisfying than any commission or contract that had come before. The scale was incredible. Massive walls that varied in age. Stages, grand halls, staircases, it was awesome. And it was a success.
For the past 10 years I have called myself a fine artist and not a craftsperson. Craft is definitely in my blood. And construction, building, planning on grand scales is WAY fun. My true expressions and fine art paintings are a very personal part of me – an internal feeling brought to life. The Raum was just a huge canvas – a collaborative art project that brought out the artist, craftsperson, leader and collaborator in all of us.
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From Detritus to Beauty and Renewal
June 08, 2011
The following is an entry made in my journal on day 2 of an art intensive in Taos, New Mexico. this experience really helped me to focus on what and why I was painting. I highly recommend retreat to help focus your thoughts and clear your mind, Can we do both at the same time? The time devoted to this self inquiry forever changed my artistic expression.
Day 2
Discover Direction. What is my direction and who am I? I am a…
Who am I?
Love this. Never want to break, but to sip it all in and savor the blessed time. I am an explorer and recorder of the juice of my experiences. I record with color, gesture, movement and material that is textural. This moment now is what I wish to record – THIS moment.
Having fun letting go. Art is a sandbox for play and discovery, stay in the moment of discovery. As I embark on the journey of my next painting, where and why and how will I proceed. The wind blows and clears out the mind and fills my spirit with a life force.
What is my life force? If I could measure or depict my life force what would it look like?
It looks earthen red with black edges and a golden center. Blue flame to cool and a greenish tinge around the gold.How does it feel? Warm and Inviting.
Why do I want to paint it? To know myself better.
How will I paint it? I will assemble it for a build and construct it from found material, assembling the detritus to create beauty and renewal.
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Art to Awaken The Mind – May Sausalito Show
June 03, 2011
Ascension
Thank you for coming out to Art to Awaken The Mind in Sausalito. It was a great show. The Life Studio, a chiropractic studio run by Colleen Lindstrom, was transformed into a beautiful gallery for the weekend and I hung 14 new paintings.
It was a pleasure to answer questions about my process and also to watch people respond to the paintings. Abstract art is a mirror to our own souls. We see what we see. Imagery is not obvious and our minds are free to play and interpret through our own lens. It is because of this that abstract art can awaken your mind to your true self. That is the goal, to find our true self.
During the night, a visitor sat in front of my painting, titled, “Passing Through” and wrote a song. He studied the painting, aware of how it made him feel, and composed another original work of art of his own.That was one of a few very special things that happened that weekend.
Visit Jennifer Perlmutter Art on Facebook to view more photos of the showing.
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Art to Awaken Your Mind
Jennifer Perlmutter Presents
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Expression of the Heart
February 10, 2011
In my studio last week for the first time in what felt like a very long time. Too much in my head with my attempt to express and create art that I thought represented me. SCREEEEeeech!
Thinking never gets me anywhere and I should have known that but I forget my practice time to time. It takes continual re-alignment of self back to center, back to the moment and when I feel myself back there, it feels so good and THAT’s how I know I am there…. This painting came from that practice of mindfulness, it came from my heart. My heart was spilling over with feelings for my son, Jaco. Compassion, understanding, Empathy, Joy, pure love. It felt so good to express from my spirit what he brings to my life.
- 40 x 30, acrylic, collage
- Cherry Porcelain II, 36 x 15, Mixed media on wood
Comments (0) | Tags: abstract expressionism, contemporary art, Jennifer Perlmutter, JenniferPerlmutter, mindfulness, mixed media, studio process
Current Work
January 17, 2011
All Things Go
All Things Go is a lyric by Sufjan Stevens. This series, like that song, explores a profound, exhilarating truth: Good or bad, happy or sad, rich or poor, light or dark, things change. This is a liberating consideration.
All of the works in this series represent an inner journey to new frontiers – a rediscovering of authentic self, a renunciation of being stuck.
Each painting began with journaling, contemplating the life force that gets me – all of us – moving to overcome everything from ennui to atrocities. I sought the spirit that gets people to show up every day, ready to proceed and progress, regardless of what came before. And I noticed that the causes of darkness dissipate. Indeed, All Things Go. Everyone, everyday, can be a phoenix rising from the ashes.
With this focus, I begin layering paper on the surface. These are things representing the past like: old book pages, lyric and song sheets, charcoal writing, torn gold paper, vintage posters and discarded paper items. I select each piece of collage based on the color and texture. Then I create a composition that best expresses that journey of transformation. Once all of the collage is glued down, paint is introduced. Informed by the colors of the collage, marks and paint begin to integrate the background to tell my story of the moment.
All Things Go allows a flow to move in and move through with equanimity and no judgment.
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adding color and paint, making marks over the collage
Beyond - Finished Painting
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Creation on the canvas and in the bottle.
September 07, 2010
You’re invited to an afternoon of acclaimed wines and original art.
Amy Aiken of Meander Wines invites you to a wine tasting and exhibition of my work. Join us in the beautiful and casual surroundings of the Meander Wines property in St. Helena, CA. Scrumptious tastes will be served.
Sunday, October 3rd, 2010, 3 pm to 6 pm
1770 Dean York Lane, St. Helena CA 94574
RSVP: 707.963.3773
- meander wine label
When I first met Amy Aiken of Meander Wines last week, introduced by mutual friend, Bev Brown, I felt her artistic sensibility right away. It was as if she wanted us all to play in her sandbox, and that is how I feel when people come to visit my art studio. It was Bev’s brilliant idea to bring us together, a CCA trained chef, she volunteered to create the nibbles for the evening – this is HUGE, she is very good at the whole wine food thing and if you have the good fortune to make it to our event, you will find out for yourself that there are actually 3 artists behind the evening.
A winemaker is very much an artist. They have a PASSION for what they do and it drives them forward despite the hardships at times. Because at the end of the day, the satisfaction of creating something of value that you want to share with the world, is so GREAT it is worth any bumps along the way. We don’t make art or wine to sit on a shelf or hide under a bed – we make it to share – it tells a story of us and bridges gaps between us and you. This afternoon is about getting to know new friends and their art form. Amy will be pouring and talking about what sets her wines apart from the rest. I have a new series of paintings that have not yet been exhibited and I am very excited to bring them out for the first time and share with a new group of people.
The event takes place on Amy’s beautiful property, where she lives and works. We’ll be using her Barn/Loft which will be comfortable with great natural light. When she said it was going to be in her “Barn”. I was prepared for hay bales and dust. Not the case, come see for yourself.
Amy Aiken and her 1958 Morris Minor truck
Comments (0) | Tags: acclaimed wine, amy aiken, art, CA, meander wines, original art, St. Helena, wine
Artist Trunk Show
July 15, 2010
@ Harmonique 4 Doors Down in Berkeley, CA
There is a very cool store in Berkeley that is hosting a trunk show for me on Saturday, July 17th, 11am-6pm.
Harmonique Home has a huge space filled with furniture art and accessories from all over the world, just 4 doors down from their boutique on the corner. It is right next to the bank parking lot on Upper Solano. I will be there all day with just about every available painting from the studio. Come by and say hello and find something wonderful to make your home more beautiful.
Hope to see you there. The address and contact info is: 1820 Solano Avenue, Berkeley - (510) 559-3229
Comments (0) | Tags: artist trunk show, contemporaryart, harmonique, interiordesign, JenniferPerlmutter
First blog posting
June 19, 2010
Perlmutter at studio in Berkeley, CA
Welcome to my new website and blog. Enjoy the new work. I’ll update the blog regularly and give a taste of new work in progress, news about exhibits and other tidbits. I look forward to sharing.
