Jean Blackmer - Fine Artist
Growing up in Western Massachusetts, I was always interested in art. My first memories of receiving praise for my artwork goes all the way back to first grade. I was designated the class artist while still in elementary school. I always had dreams of attending art school, but due to lack of finances I ended up becoming a nurse. The tuition was free to anyone born and living in our hometown. In 1976 due to my husbands job we moved to the South, first to Georgia, then onto South Carolina where we have lived for the past 24 years.
Still having artistic aspirations, I returned to school and graduated in 1991 with a Graphic Arts diploma. The computer age was upon us and I learned to do my paste up on the computer verses actually drawing and painting it. That evolved into GIS (creating maps with digital data) which I found interesting. However, it still was not what I really wanted to do, but it paid the bills.
Now retired, I get to paint all I want and hopefully to sell enough to buy more paint! I usually paint from photographs, carrying my camera around wherever I go, always looking for a potential painting. In my early years I painted with oils, then on to acrylics. About 15 years ago I was asked to paint a watercolor to be made into a poster for Thoroughbred Country (one of ten tourism regions in South Carolina). At the time I was unsure of myself, but persevered and did the painting. That painting also served as the cover illustration on their Visitors Guide for many years. At present I am still the featured artist with Thoroughbred Country with my artwork all through their Visitors Guide and their webpage: www.tbredcountry.org.
I am self-taught, but will admit to buying many books on watercolor trying to teach myself the different methods. I would try their methods, then usually end up doing my own thing. In recent years I took a few workshops learning to use more paint and less water which has resulted in much more vivid colors.
I have attempted to carve wood, do stained glass (creating windows for my house) and sculpting with clay, but always return to my favorite medium, watercolor. My favorite subjects are horses, portraits and flowers, not necessarily in that order. Ideas for watercolors entice me daily. I am a member of the Aiken Artist Guild and the North Augusta Artists Guild.
