Oil painter Lindsay Jones is a master of landscapes; she gravitates most often to oil painting, starting with a sketch and then custom mixing every color before applying the first stroke of paint.
Lindsay Jones is also set apart by her deep immersion in Charlotte’s art community: she has studied modern landscape and abstract painting at The Carlton Gallery in Banner Elk, NC and at Braitman Studios in Charlotte, NC. Lindsay is also a member of Studio 117 and has exhibited at a variety of venues including McColl Center for Art & Innovation and donated paintings to nonprofit art auctions; read more about Lindsay Jones’ community involvement here. She also recently partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte to create “Art Share,” a program that provide commissioned works of art for new Habitat homeowners and Critical Home Repair clients. She is a long-time supporter, volunteer, and past board member of Arts For Life, a nonprofit organization providing children art education in hospital settings.
What sparked your interest in art?
As a young child, I always enjoyed making things. The process of coming up with an idea and then creating something that wasn’t there before was exciting. Whether I was making up songs on the piano, writing poetry and music lyrics, painting with watercolor, working with clay, or making jewelry, I loved the creative process. As an adult, my life experiences have led me to focus my creative energy on cultivating my love of fine art and oil painting.
Tell us about your background or training in art.
I ended up as an oil painter by complete chance. I attended Wake Forest University, and my freshman advisor spoke highly of the oil painting professor in Wake’s art department, Paige Laughlin. So I thought, “I’ll give it a try.” After I enrolled in her class, I found out I was the only non-art major taking intro to oil painting, I tried to drop the class. She said, “If you are willing to try, I am willing to teach.” I ended up minoring in Studio Art and majoring in Communications.
I spent the bulk of my twenties and thirties working in the public relations and communications sector, I always painted when I could. When my youngest child enrolled in kindergarten, my time opened up and I started taking an oil painting class with Andy Braitman. Painting with him was truly the difference maker for me. He helped me change my mindset, and I started to view painting more as a profession than a hobby.
What inspired you to start your own business?
Starting my own art business was just another way of being creative. Prior to Lindsay Jones Fine Art, I started a small marketing agency with a dear friend to assist nonprofits. I really like the process of beginning something new, whether it is a new business, new idea, or new painting. While I enjoy working for myself, painting can also be isolating. As an extrovert, creating in a studio with other artists (and not in my kitchen) was an important step for me. Studio 117 has been a game changer for me. My work has benefitted from having a dedicated place to paint surrounded by other artists.
Who are some of your favorite artists?
I will always admire my two primary painting instructors, Andy Braitman and Paige Laughlin, not only for their ability to teach and cultivate a love of the arts, but also for the way they have distinguished themselves in cultivating their own distinctive style. My favorite masters include Pablo Picasso, Richard Diebenkorn, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Gustav Klimt.
Many of your pieces are nature-inspired. Can you tell us about this theme and from where you draw this inspiration?
There is so much beauty in the world… It could be easy to go about our lives not noticing the beauty around us. I draw my inspiration from trying to capture and celebrate the beauty and mystery of the natural world. Painting these images helps me pause, to be still long enough to take a breath and appreciate my surroundings and experiences. Most of my paintings are based on places where I have traveled or environments that have inspired me.
As an artist who believes in the power of art to heal, you often give back and serve through your pieces. As an artist, why do you believe this is important?
I’ve helped facilitate art projects with children in hospital settings. I firmly believe that art plays a key role in the healing process for both children and adults. When we are sick or hurting, there is a sense that we lose control over our own lives. Art not only provides an outlet for expressing those feelings, but it helps regain a sense of control.
Tell us about your creative process. How do you work?
My favorite painting days start early and finish late, with few interruptions. I completely lose myself and often wonder hours later where the time has gone. Ideally, I will have five or six paintings simultaneously in progress, some planned and some spontaneous. I like bright, vibrant colors. I am less interested in capturing exact accuracy than abstracting the landscape so it requires input from the viewer. Someone once told me, “You don’t have to paint it right, you just can’t paint it wrong.”
What do you hope that viewers of your art will take away?
On the wall of my studio I have a quote from Rumi that says, “Let the beauty we love be what we do.” I hope viewers of my paintings will see the world differently and notice beauty around them. I hope they are inspired to do what it is they love and make something beautiful.
