Jeanette Read
Jeanette Read’s journey into the world of art began in a household rich with books, music, and creativity. "Our house growing up was always full of books and music," Jeanette recalls. Her parents, both avid readers, encouraged her to explore the world through literature and the arts. "My parents also took us to museums around the UK and Europe during summer holidays, encouraging us to learn about the history of the places we visited," she adds. This early exposure to culture and creativity laid the foundation for Jeanette’s lifelong passion for art.
A Family Rooted in Creativity
Jeanette’s creative journey was nurtured by her family, who influenced her in various ways. "My mother was always sewing clothes for us, knitting, or creating costumes for school drama productions," she shares. Her father, who enjoyed painting and drawing, passed on his artistic talents to Jeanette, often sitting with her to create and offering encouraging words. "My wider family is very musical, and I have early memories of family events usually involving a piano or other musical instruments," she adds, highlighting the rich creative environment that surrounded her.
From an early age, Jeanette loved to paint and draw, spending hours in her bedroom copying pictures of birds or flowers from her wildlife books. Although she only pursued art to GCSE level as a young person, Jeanette’s passion for creativity never waned. "I came back to study for an art degree in my 40s and have just graduated at the age of 49," she shares, emphasizing her lifelong commitment to developing her artistic skills.
A Shift Toward Abstraction
Before pursuing her degree, Jeanette’s painting was predominantly representational, with a focus on the sea, mountains, and botanical work. However, her university education opened her eyes to working in a much more abstract way. "I discovered and studied a huge range of artists, particularly the op artists of the 1960s, which have influenced the way in which I work today," she explains. This shift toward abstraction allowed Jeanette to explore new dimensions of creativity while maintaining the precision that has always characterized her work.
Experimentation and Perception
Jeanette’s work is marked by a constant experimentation with different styles and mediums. "I think as artists we are always experimenting with different styles and mediums," she says, noting that her work retains an element of precision and control. Her motivation lies in exploring different ways to play with perception and investigate how we see things. "My biggest motivation is making the viewer an active part of the artwork," she adds.
Recurring themes in Jeanette’s work include concepts such as order, chaos, repetition, and disruption, which are evident in her hard-edged, abstract geometric pieces. "I am interested in the role of the viewer, their relationship to a piece of art, and how they can be a vital and integral part of the work," she explains. Her studies of color and perception theory, along with the influence of the Op Art movement, have been central to her practice. "I love chatting to people about my work when they are looking at it, as the responses are so different and people often see things which I haven’t," she says.
The Creative Process
Jeanette’s creative process begins in her sketchbook, where she captures rough sketches and ideas. "My sketchbook wouldn’t make sense to anyone else; it is a sort of 'brain dump' and a far cry from the final precise works," she notes. After refining her ideas digitally, Jeanette always returns to creating the final works by hand, believing that the hand of the artist is crucial. "Someone once said to me that you should always leave something for the viewer, and this has stuck with me when I wrestle over the little imperfections that are a natural consequence of working by hand," she shares.
Her surroundings play a significant role in inspiring her work. "The motivation for my work comes from the world around me, from the rhythms that exist in both the natural and man-made worlds and the hidden beauty they contain," she explains. For example, her 'Flow' series of screen prints was inspired by the movement of waves through the ocean, conveying a sense of movement and rhythm through the gradual shift in the placement of geometric shapes.
Challenges and Rewards
Jeanette has faced her share of challenges in her creative journey, one of the most notable being the creation of a large wall mural for her final degree show. "It was a leap of faith and a hugely challenging project in terms of planning and physicality, but also hugely rewarding when the piece was complete," she recalls. Although the mural had to be painted over afterward, Jeanette didn’t mind. "I knew in this instance the only way for me to produce this work at this scale was to draw directly onto the wall, and the limited life span was an inevitability of this," she says.
Looking Ahead
As she looks to the future, Jeanette aspires to continue producing optically challenging work on both small and large scales. "I’d also like to be involved in public/community projects," she shares. Additionally, Jeanette is exploring the commercial potential of her designs, particularly in surface pattern design for fabric, wallpaper, or other surfaces.
For Jeanette, staying true to her creative vision is paramount. "I think it’s important to stay true to what you believe in and pursue those themes that interest you as an artist," she emphasizes. Her advice to aspiring artists is simple but powerful: "Just work. You can’t sit around waiting for inspiration to hit you—take out a sketchbook and just draw. Don’t worry about what other people are doing; there is room for everyone!"
Jeanette Read’s journey as an artist is one of continuous exploration, learning, and growth. Through her work, she invites viewers to engage with the world around them in new and exciting ways, challenging their perceptions and encouraging them to become active participants in the artistic experience.
