Jeannine Close

Jeannine is a mixed-media artist living and working by the English coast in Folkestone.

Interested in all aspects of design from packaging to architecture, her design background has a strong influence on Jeannine’s artistic work. 

She first studied to gain a degree in fashion, which was strongly focused on fine arts. After working in the industry for some time Jeannine retrained as an interior designer, working on hotel and high-end residential projects. 

Since becoming a mother Jeannine is now a full-time artist.

“Painting has always been a big part of my life in some shape or form. It has inspired my design work and equally my design work has inspired my paintings. In the back of my mind I always think about how the piece is going to look in a collector’s space.

I create layered mixed-media abstracts that invite the viewer to pause and reflect. I love the freedom abstract painting brings and how each painting develops its own life during the process. 

Layer by layer I build up a history of colours and textures and respond to the emerging image. 

The work is mostly inspired by mental states of calm and chaos, translated into spacious areas paired with energetic marks. 

I start with the idea of a colour and a technique, then let my intuition guide me through the painting process. 

My process is a balance of applying design principles and intuition. This allows me to develop an aesthetic while keeping a playful approach to my work which is connected to myself.

I am constantly exploring contrast. This can be transparent layers set against solid areas of colour, difference in value, or a variety of textures and mark-making.”