Ghost Plant, also known as Indian Pipe, is a wildflower that thrives across much of North America, including Tennessee. I found that this delicate flower complemented the abstract background I crafted using handmade papers.
Tag: mixed media
This canvas was originally intended to be part of my Time Warp piece, but it ultimately evolved into a triptych rather than a quadriptych. When I was asked to donate a piece to the Cumberland Trail Association, I contemplated the best approach. I decided that one of Tennessee’s wildflowers would complement the background I had already painted. Passion flowers turned out to be a perfect fit, especially since the theme focused on wildflowers.
Jackson, Ann. (2023). Passion Flowers. [Acrylic mixed media on canvas]. Chattanooga, TN: Private collection. 12 x 12 inches
Growing up, I drove my parents crazy with my habitual lateness. My relationship with time is quite peculiar; an hour can feel like just fifteen minutes, while a single minute can stretch into what seems like an hour. I often find myself navigating a time warp. This painting captures the essence of that experience for me.
Jackson, Ann. (2023). Time Warp. [Acrylic mixed media on canvas]. Available. Triptych – three 12 x 12 inch
I almost painted over the background of this canvas because I didn’t like it. However, I then noticed shapes resembling leaves that reminded me of ones I had seen before, so I began painting them. During the 4 Bridges Arts Festival, a man asked why I included Hebrew text in the artwork. I explained that a fellow artist had given me the sheet of paper, and the line spacing happened to match the ribs of the cannabis leaves. He replied, “Well, that’s the first kosher cannabis I’ve ever seen.” I exclaimed, “Can I use that for the title?!?”
Jackson, Ann. (2023). Kosher Cannabis. [Acrylic mixed media on canvas]. Available. 24 x 36 inches
Two pages from an old dictionary were given to me. While working on this piece, I focused on highlighting the word pusillanimous exposed. To my delight, I also I noticed the words Queer and Wench, which made me laugh. It was perfect–there was my title!
Jackson, Ann. (2023). Queer Wench. [Acrylic mixed media on canvas]. Columbia, TN: Private collection. 10 x 20 inches
This painting represents a journey. Initially, it felt like a river cruise, with rock cliffs rising on both sides. As I moved forward, I passed through Ta Prohm, an ancient temple, eventually arriving at a mystical doorway hidden behind a waterfall. The entire experience has been a remarkable adventure.
Jackson, Ann. (2023). Mystical Solitude. [Acrylic mixed media on canvas]. Available. 24 x 48 inches
Cherokee Tale
The ancient tale of land and water, darkness and light. This was how children in towns and villages across the Southeast learned who they were, where their ancestors had come from, how the world itself had come to be. There were different versions – probably as many as there were old people – but the heart of the story was the same. Around the home fires of a Cherokee town, it might have gone this way:
Long ago, before there were any people, the earth was a great island floating in a sea of water, suspended by four cords hanging down from the sky vault, which was made of solid rock. It was dark and the animals could not see, so they got the sun and sest it in a track to go across the island every day from east to west, just overhead.
The Creator told the animals and plants to stay awake for seven nights. But only a few of the animals were able to, including owls and panthers, and they were rewarded with the power to go about in the dark. Among the plants, only the cedars, pines spruces, and laurels stayed awake, so they were allowed to remain green year-round and to provide the best medicines. The Creator chided the other trees: “Because you have not endured to the end, you shall lose your hair every winter.”
People appeared last, after the animals, the sun, nad the plants, but they multiplied so quickly that they threatened to overrun the world. So it was decided that each woman would have only one child a year, and it been that way ever since.
Through Indian Eyes – The Untold Story of Native American Peoples by Reader’s Digest ©1995
This piece is SOLD.
Strength in the Face of Dissolution was challenging, but I decided to create another small paper piece, referencing a rock face, to see if it would be as difficult as the first—and it was.
I felt like inventing a jigsaw puzzle without the interlocking knobs and holes of traditional pieces. Most of the “puzzle pieces” are made from homemade paper, while the deep orange portion uses store-bought paper.
“Perhaps it’s good for one to suffer. Can an artist do anything if he’s happy? Would he ever want to do anything? What is art, after all, but a protest against the horrible inclemency of life?” – Aldous Huxley
The reference photo for this painting was a rock by the lake. The piece resembles a jigsaw puzzle, primarily composed of small, torn pieces of homemade paper, with a few store-bought papers included. It made my eyes cross and took a considerable amount of time to complete.
I have many photos of Albert Paley’s iron fence at the Hunter Museum of Art in Chattanooga, TN, starting from the 1980s, including one of me standing in front of the gate. A particular view of this fence has adorned my phone wallpaper for several years, so it was only natural for it to inspire a painting. This painting made me so happy, I executed a second one of a different view of the fence.
Jackson, Ann. (2023). Albert Paley’s Iron Fence II. [Acrylic mixed media on cradle board]. Chattanooga, TN: Private collection. 12″x12″
Samson just pulled down the pillars of the temple killing thousands of his enemies. Both of his wives had deceived him…the first by giving the Philistines the answer to his riddle; the second by cutting his hair which allowed him to be captured by the Philistines.
Samson’s riddle from Judges 14:
“Out of the eater came forth meat,
and out of the strong came forth sweetness.”
“What is sweeter than honey?
And what is stronger than a lion?”
Suddenly, space travel appears to be on the verge of becoming accessible to the average person. Do you ever dream of soaring through space? Do you think that funds allocated for space exploration should instead be directed toward humanitarian projects, like feeding the homeless and supporting underserved children?
Quadriptych – four 12″x12″
Separating from longtime relationship is extremely difficult no matter the situation. Making changes in other areas of your life can also be scary. Alas, sometimes you just have to burn a bridge.
“Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge.” – Don Henley of the Eagles
People who practice magic sometimes make “war water” using rusty items. The rust turns the water dark and it is then used in rituals for protection against malevolent forces.
Diptyque – two 11″x14″
I grew up surrounded by sunflowers, but I never truly appreciated them at the end of their life cycle. Over the last few years, however, I have taken to photographing various dead plants and critters I encounter during nature walks, even in the bustling heart of downtown Chattanooga. This new perspective has opened my eyes to the beauty and complexity of decay, allowing me to explore themes of life, death, and transformation in my work. Each image tells a story, capturing the poignant beauty found in the remnants of nature that often go unnoticed.
11″ x 14″
This piece is SOLD.
What type of bridge do you need on your life journey right now?
Consider what you are seeking in your life: Is it a break from the past, a journey into new territory, or a means to strengthen connections? Each type of bridge offers a unique pathway to exploration and reflection.
Bridge symbolism:
A Break from the Past (Burning Bridges)
Conquering Fear and ‘Overcoming’
Transition & Change
Travel
A Meeting Point
Unity
Farewells
Connection to God
A Lifeline
Trust
Liminality
Romance
New Beginnings
11″ x 14″
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory encountered a rare oddity in October 2017: a dark filament encircling an active region of the sun. Solar filaments are clouds of charged particles suspended above the solar surface, held in place by magnetic forces. Typically, they appear as elongated, uneven strands. Intrigued by this phenomenon, I found a way to incorporate these celestial elements into my painting, drawing inspiration from their unique and dynamic forms.
24″ x 36″