We were lucky to catch up with Jill Basham recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jill, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

I began my art career later in life. I was in my early 40’s. Art was not a path I seriously considered when I was young. My major in college centered on Urban Planning, The idea of planning urban public areas in order to have a positive impact had definitely appealed to me, but my career path took me in the direction of Transportation Planning, which I found rather boring! I decided to quit my work when my husband and I had our first child. I wanted to stay home with her. We had three other children, all of whom I stayed home with, which I felt fortunate to be able to do. When my youngest was in 3rd or 4th grade, I made the decision to get back into a career. I knew I didn’t want to go back to transportation planning, and felt it was a good opportunity to explore a different path. At that same time I signed up for a drawing course at the local art museum. Drawing was really enjoyable to me. After drawing I moved onto oil painting.
Suddenly I realized exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. The feeling of “this is what I am supposed to be doing” was so strong. I knew it was the right path. After that beginning, I was driven to learn, paint and paint some more! I signed up for workshops with Nationally recognized artists that I admired such as Ken Auster and Kevin Macpherson, among others. Between my initial classes at the Museum and workshops, I was able to gain valuable knowledge. Even so, it was not the same as going to Art School as a teenager and spending my younger years focused on painting. I don’t regret that at all, however. My work would not be what it is today if I had gone to school for art.
I believe my originality of application,emotional freedom, and willingness to experiment and push boundaries may come from my lack of formal training. If I could have a “re-do”, I would not change a thing. I consider my art career to be a lifetime journey of exploration and learning, and for that I am incredibly grateful.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am primarily a landscape oil painter. I paint both in the studio and in the field, traveling to different locations within the US as well as abroad. I am represented by notable galleries including:

Principle Gallery, Alexandria VA
Reinert Fine Art, Charleston SC
Trippe Gallery, Easton MD
Crown Gallery, Blowing Rock, NC
Sugarlift Gallery, NYC (online)
Olmsted Gallery, Atlanta GA (online)

“I am overwhelmed by the beauty of nature, in particular the atmosphere of an environment. Atmosphere is revealed by how the light strikes objects, both natural and manmade. I particularly enjoy the mood of skies and expansive views. Inspiration can arrive anywhere, from a bustling street in Manhattan to an isolated marsh. It’s the “feeling” of the place that inspires me, and I hope to translate. When painting a scene, I don’t have specific rules for myself. I prefer to let a scene and my feelings for it, set my approach. Palette knives, brushes, household items and hardware store finds have all been used in moving paint onto and around my canvases. I see each painting as an experiment that is unfolding. My initial goal can be interrupted by a new idea during the process, and I’m okay with taking a different path and veering from what might have been comfortable. Of course, there are risks with this, the fear of “failure”, and quite possibly a painting that needs to be wiped off…yet that’s okay with me. It’s the safe paintings that I find less exciting. The truly moving pieces are the ones that I pushed a bit. There are stories to tell. I strive to get my paintings to a point to which I “feel” the place I have painted, and hope others do as well. My hope is that others see and feel the stories I’m telling.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I’m standing on a hillside in West Texas painting a straight back road that seems to go up and over hills for infinity. I am a landscape artist from the flat area surrounding the Chesapeake Bay on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Texas landscape is new and so exciting to paint! I am utterly absorbed in painting this amazing Texas road. The Zone. I’m in the Zone. That’s what we artists refer to when the painting seemingly paints itself and the result is one that seems above our own ability.

Paintings that flow out are incredibly rewarding. Rewarding in it’s own right, even if it never sold or received recognition.
Traveling to new locations and painting these incredible views with “fresh eyes” is very exciting, but joy can be found from painting the familiar and seeing new beauty as well. My hope is that my emotional response to what I am seeing is evident in my work and that this work will find a home that will be appreciated for years to come, An added bonus for my Texas painting, “The Garland of Texas” was that it was voted on by my peers for the “Artists Choice” Award. While not every painting wins awards, it is the act of painting that brings me the most joy. Being fully present and absorbed in the zone and in the moment is the true reward.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The Critic. The Critic comes along and judges my work. When this happens, it can be frustrating, maddening and deflate my ego. Yet the Critic almost always makes a visit while I am in the process of a painting. I’m speaking about my own self criticism. I think I can speak for most artists in stating that we are toughest on ourselves when it comes to our art.

While I often wish the Critic would get lost, it is a necessary evil, and actually drives my creative journey. I strive to create work that is not simply competent in design, values and drawing but strive to improve my work with each painting. My ultimate goal is to have my work resonate with emotion. I

I believe there are paintings that are “mile posts” for my artistic journey, revealing new revelations. This new understanding comes from failed paintings, and experimentation. Without pushing boundaries and “upsetting the Critic”, an artist will not fully realize their potential. A creative journey is just that, a journey. The destination will never be found, as there will always be new things to learn. My mission is to uncover possibilities in my work through experimentation, always asking “what if?”, knowing that I will never fully satisfy my Critic, and that’s alright!

Contact Info:

• Website: jillbasham.com
• Instagram: jilltascherbasham
• Facebook: Jill Tascher Basham

Image Credits
Val Cavalheri