Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Russell

Hi Jocelyn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

Art has always been a significant part of my life. I attended art school, always made art, and taught art for many years. However, it wasn’t until I became a part of the Mother Creatrix Collective, a fantastic group of artist mothers, that I experienced a significant shift in my art career. This incredibly supportive group of talented mother artists has been a catalyst for change, pushing me to show my work more regularly and in a broader range of galleries. The collective has also opened doors for me to curate shows, a role I find incredibly rewarding and look forward to doing more of.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Is anything ever a smooth road? We learn and grow when there are bumps, which has undoubtedly been the case with my art! I teach art full-time and care for a child and an elderly mother. Art is something that I squeeze into a very full daily schedule. Because I have limited time and struggle with time management, through trial and error, I’ve come to understand the importance of external structures and deadlines. They are not just tools but necessities in my journey.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

My creative practice is rooted in a profound connection to the materials I work with and the processes I employ. I enjoy the emphasis on the tactile and sensory aspects and the meditative and repetitive nature of my artistic process. I draw inspiration from fleeting moments, ranging from the grand and spiritual to the small and intimate, capturing them through various materials and methods, allowing my work to evolve organically.
Two of my current bodies of work are similar in their desire to capture and convey profound moments in my life and are grounded in my love of material and process. With my ‘Reflections’ and ‘Waterscapes/Landscapes’ bodies of work, I created installations of hand-built porcelain forms that reference my experiences on the water and in nature. The combination of shoreline, waves, light and their reflections on the water evoke grand, spiritual, and calming moments. The repetitive act of hand building in porcelain often produces the same feelings.
‘Labor of Love’ is a series of mixed-media, hand-made paper work about my experiences as a mother and caregiver. The labor is quiet and repetitive and aimed at reestablishing life patterns for those I care for. In its very nature, however, so often, the intensity and the dedication that labor requires go unrecognized. Yet, it is in that process that I see myself most clearly. The method of creating these pieces echoes that experience in its repetitive tasks, my fingers touching the same surfaces, counting moments of the day, wanting to be alone, missing my loved ones the moment I am alone, feeling like I am being followed by a long line of responsibilities where ever I go. The repetitive patterns in my work communicate who I am and what it feels like to engage in the myriad ongoing acts of caregiving.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?

I am an avid reader; I especially love fantasy, sci-fi, and multi-book series. And if the book is a vast tome, even better!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jocelynaerussell.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofawen

Image Credits

Jocelyn Russell