Jonelle T McCoy may 2014 vol 3 no 5

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May 2014 Volume 3 No. 5

VISUAL LANGUAGE contemporary fine art

Jonelle T. McCoy

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Sunshine in a Cup http://www.jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com

Jonelle T McCoy McCoy’s Gaited Horse Artworks

http://www.mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

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Gallery Visit

Jonelle T. McCoy

Expressing myself through Horses.

Art articulates the painter’s visual voice; mine is spoken predominately through God’s masterful creation, the horse. This gift to speak on canvas was born as a part of me, and in my maturity, I realize now I am meant to say it loud and clear so others can see it too. I realized just how precious this ability could be later in life, for me, saying life begins at 50 rings quite true. I’d always been expressing myself artistically starting as a child. Animals, particularly the horse, were my favorite subjects. I drew, painted, made greeting cards, cut out and created paper animal shapes in 2D and 3D, I made my own patterns along with using the ready bought designs and sewed my own zoo of stuffed animals, many of which were rather complex. I was a quiet, humble child, easily suppressed and manipulated; it was through art I could speak my repressed emotions. In my youth and early adult life, I spent more time trying to navigate through the social war field as I saw it, the paintings and drawings I created were an undisciplined pastime. I drifted unanchored for years without a solid goal, then landed a job as an apprentice scenic artist in my late 20’s. I was completely out of my realm, I learned the craft as I went by trial and error, watching and emulating my peers, most of who were protective of their positions, they wanted apprentices to support them, but were not always forthcoming with technique.

I am forever grateful to those who guided me to help me grow and learn. A few years later in 1991 I found myself relocating from Upstate NY where I was born and raised to Oklahoma, it was here that I met my future husband, we married in 2001 when I was 41. No longer was I the single horse crazy artist lady, I now had an animal and horse loving partner. He is very supportive of my artwork and is my most honest critic. I’ve worked several different jobs as a professional scenic here in Oklahoma, but eventually stayed with one, the OKC event company Eventures Inc., where I am the artist on call and have been for about 20 years.

http://www.jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com

Sadly my husband got hurt on the job just 5 months after we married sending us into a spiraling downward journey financially, emotionally, physically; I turned into an emotional wreck, my ever present struggle with depression elevated dramatically. I was still working as a scenic, but my occasional personal art outlet froze, my inspiration was gone. I longed to paint, but I was afraid.

Afraid I’d fail, I’d waste materials, waste time, always imagining failure. I didn’t want yet another area of my life to become a source of stress.

How wrong I was to think that way! In late 2009 I had done some flower wall murals at the event co office, and the praise by all who saw the artwork suddenly broke the dam- I was flooded with confidence and the urge to create once again for me, my muse was back! I got out my paints, my brushes and canvas, and then got to work. I felt a torrent of creativity, the dam was broken. The desire, a FIRE inside of me was pouring out! The horses I painted spoke of all those repressed feelings. I’m a super charged emotional person that keeps a closed lid on them, the horses I painted in bright colors with emotion and motion gave me a voice, a catharsis for my pain, my fears and they also spoke of joy, triumph and love. After a year of flexing my creative muscle, I had an idea sparked from a childhood art class crayon exercise for finding what lay underneath, and I experimented.

It was then my signature line style was birthed, and I continue to refine, expand, build, grow and express myself with it. I primarily work with acrylics due to their versatility. With the recent release of more acrylic based products, the spray paints, the fluid flow, extended dry time open and now the high flow colors makes my chosen medium ever more enticing to stretch my technique. Partly because of my scenic training requiring speed and efficiency, partly because I have a short attention span, and mostly because of my free flowing line style using masking, I like the acrylics because I can create quickly, find satisfaction before my enthusiasm for the painting wanes, and remove the masking before the paint cures.

Painting has helped me to survive the daily demands of a caregiver, to feel my place in this world, to give others a break from the tough reality that surrounds us. I like the free form my technique gives to my horses, it’s unrestricted, and they flow. It’s a feeling I best relate to, inside I’m a free spirit. The colors and poses used are as varied as the range of emotions felt, and I try to connect to the viewer emotionally, intuitively. This is how I create, intuitively, what will be, will be, they oftentimes seem to create themselves.

Painting has given me back my sanity; the paintings

expand who I am, they are a part of me that now have a life of their own. I paint with a focus, an intense inner passion, with desire to expand, to understand myself and the world around me better. It must be working, I feel whole and happier now more than ever before, I have found peace and a way to conquer adversity.

Thank you God for the blessings you’ve bestowed me, for my talent, my life and for those who are precious to me. And thank you for the horse, the most beautiful creature I know of, a truly beautiful being. Through my paintings, our blended spirit will live on.

http://www.mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

VL

Gallery Visit

Jonelle T. McCoy

24 Carrot 20 x 16

http://www.jonelle-t-mccoy.artistwebsites.com

The Fire Within 16 x 16

http://www.mccoysgaitedhorseartworks.blogspot.com

Visit VL Gallery Jonelle T. McCoy

Suits Me to Swim 20 x 24

Tension 18 x2 4

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Coffee with Creme 20 x 24

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