Rebecca Jones
Biography

I was born in 1960, and raised in Charlotte, NC. I graduated from East Carolina in 1988, I attended the New York Studio School in NYC in 1987. From 1989-1993 I lived in Berlin, Germany where I set up studio to paint. Berlin was a meeting place for east and west and my interest in the middle east began to influence my work. In 1995 I was able to travel to Turkey and Syria. In 1996 I established residence in Brooklyn, NY where I worked in studios designed for emerging artist. While living there, I spent considerable time in museums. In 1999 I returned to Charlotte to continue my artwork and be with my family. I was chosen for a residency at the McColl Center for Visual Arts in 2002. In 2005 my husband Alex and I adopted our daughter Ali Tao from China. We three are creating art in Charlotte.

Statement

I have been making art ever since I can remember. Art has always been a stable force in my life, from a small child when I expressed feelings visually over verbal, to an adult where making art keeps me grounded in the world around me. Seeking different experiences and answers to age old questions took me to places and situations that demanded insight into myself and reflection of the past. My paintings mostly derive from good old life experience and manifests into imagery that is sardonic and empathetic.

Encaustic has been my primary medium for the last 10 years. It allows me to work in a meticulous technique and keep a spontaneous, organic feel to my work. I use a hot palette to heat wax paints, and bees wax, combined with dammar varnish, creating layers painted on wood. Oil paint is painted between the layers and a hot air gun is used to fuse the surface. I also work in oil, printmaking, and papier-mache.