In the Studio with

Gene Jaress

This Saturday we introduce you to artist Gene Jaress!

How did you start making art?

As long as I can remember, I have made things. The high schools I attended had extensive facilities for printmaking, painting, drawing, jewelry, woodworking and leatherwork. I was allowed to use all the equipment. I printed the posters for school events, and entered prints in statewide juried events.

Why do you create and what need does it satisfy?

Creating, building, making things are a compulsion for me. It comes from curiosity, what if questions, and sometimes is something I need like a tool.

As an artist, what is your most important tool?

The most important tools are the simplest, paper and pencil. Everything starts there.

What is something that you can’t live without in your studio and why?

Back to the most important things – paper and pencil. Everything is composed before going on to the medium. Then there is my dog, the comfort factor, and music on the radio.

What is your least favorite part of your process?

The finish. When do you stop? One stroke makes it or breaks it. For example in metalwork such as jewelry, the final polish can bring it all together or literally destroy the piece.

What is your favorite part?

The beginning. Everything is worked out, prepared from an idea to a form. As with any creative undertaking, there is a beginning, a middle and an end. The beginning is exciting, the middle is hard work involving a lot of concentration and frustration, and the end brings it all together to make it a stand-alone piece.