We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michelle Jacobson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michelle below.

Michelle, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Going to a conceptual art school taught me how to direct my emotions into abstract ideas, express myself within the context of current art and events, and how to make art out of what is directly in front of me. The goal of any artist is to achieve enough skill and facility that rules can be broken and the act of creation itself becomes playful. During the pandemic, I worked as an Outdoor Educator on Catalina Island, Pinnacles National Park, and the remote mountains of Santa Cruz, and as an Art and Nature Teacher in the Presidio of San Francisco. This was a challenging time for most, but surrounding myself with uplifting educators and youth while in nature was the perfect remedy to the isolation that most people were experiencing at that time. This community and the moments of fulfilling solitude allowed me to connect to my own art-making process through new lenses. Observing, collaborating, and playing are fundamental concepts that I have embraced through my experiences as an educator and artist.

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.

As a California native, the Pacific Ocean, the stark desert landscapes of Joshua Tree, and breathtaking blooms of local flowers have been a perennial presence in my life. Nature’s capacity to consume me in its power and cleanse my senses has been my most steady source of healing and inspiration. Growing up roaming the Greater Los Angeles Area has resulted in my deep love for world class art and iconic Pacific Coast ecosystems. Swimming, surfing, rock climbing, and yoga in the garden have become lifelong rituals. Through oil pastel, ink on paper and now Plein Air oil painting, I am able to treat the act of artistic creation as a meditative space that feels similar to the calm of being alone on a surfboard, waiting to catch a wave. Patterns and rhythms emerge, spilling out over the paper and canvas with no clear end in sight. Like the ocean, my art practice grounds me, and provides me a sense of continuity and healing.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

In no particular order, here are a few sources I’ve drawn inspiration from.

“The Ten Faces of Innovation” by Tom Kelley highlights and defines several types of personalities and what kinds of ideas they enjoy spending their time working on. This book is wonderfully pragmatic and highlights team building resources used to learn, organize and accomplish business-oriented goals. By innovating like an IDEO partner, I can better adapt to challenges and express myself suitably in the current moment. Tom Kelley explains that “Innovation is messy, chaotic, and unpredictable. Embrace the chaos and be open to new possibilities.” By reframing the process of innovation and applying it to how I make art, I can reach new potentials and build better futures. When I discover a new painting location, or try a challenging new medium I feel firmly supported as an artist, with unlimited possibilities.

I was stunned and excited by the poetry, depth of historical context, and layered hidden meanings in “The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images”, when I first encountered this book at the Taschen Gallery in 2016. Creation, the cosmos, plant and animal ecologies, and the spirit world collide with interconnectivities that span diverse cultures and eras of time. I like to flip through the encyclopedia of visual imagery to find symbols that inspire me as I build concepts for my work. For example, If I’m going to the desert, I might find symbols that resonate to the local climate and wild animals I may encounter. Additionally, the ocean is a constant source of inspiration, wonder, and respect. If I lose something or miss someone and it’s coming though in the painting, this book is the first place I look to soothe my psyche and connect deeper to my spirituality.

I’m absolutely mesmerized by British artist David Hockney’s early work, who spent most of his artistic life in Los Angeles before returning to his home in Yorkshire. The paintings of cobalt blue swimming pools with big splashes, the winding road of Mulhollland and Nicholas Canyon, his studies of the atmospheric vistas of the San Fernando Valley, and the minimalist buildings and portraits of Wilshire Blvd capture his passion for the West Coast. The splendor, simplicity and clarity of his massive Plein Air landscapes demonstrate his mastery of color-theory and scale, and have served as a huge inspiration to my work.

Lastly, Yayoi Kusama’s “INFINITE LOVE”, allowed me to step into a kaleidoscope world of mirrors, vibrant inflated tentacles, and polka dots. My reflection echoed to infinity in the mirror and I found myself looking for all the people I have known and loved in the periphery of my view, as if they were hiding between the polka dot windows, or in the corners of the room behind the tentacles. Her installation, which featured a reading of a poem about love, forced me to remember all the people I love, whether living or dead, and to hold space for them in my heart. When I make art in nature, I equally practice holding space and honoring these connections. Kusama’s installation boxes become capsules for our grief, and hope for future connection.

Chaos, symbolism, color, and infinite love are themes that fuel my art practice. I’m reminded of Paul Klee’s words: “Art doesn’t reproduce the visible. It renders the visible.” Art has the capacity to express what cannot be said with words and making work helps me connect with the inexpressible.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Having the passion and technical skills to share my inner experiences with the world through the practice of art making is a powerful ability. While creating these oil pastel works on location, I was often encouraged by other visitors on the trail, roadside, hillside or garden, and the excitement and camaraderie of fellow adventurers was contagious. It’s an incredibly rewarding feeling when a composition starts to come together, and it’s always a gratifying moment when the concept of the work begins to emerge through the process. Drawn from the stunning scenery of California, my work has been a point of connection to other people and has led to some of the most memorable conversations. As I continue to perfect my process, my spirit is fed by the forests, wild animal sightings, serendipitous moments and webs of interconnection that are created by these simple acts of mark making.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.michellelynnjacobson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seaskeleton
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-jacobson-112837183/

Image Credits

The artist portrait is by Taylor Tazmin Photography, and the artwork documentation is by Miranda Guzman Photography.