LEAH JACOBS, LCSW
Since Covid came about, my paintings have expressed threat. I try to capture threat as seen in nature. Prior to Covid my artist statement was as follows.
My paintings are influenced by my reaction to viewing aspects of nature. I am particularly interested in the beauty intrinsic in nature because it enables me, and I hope others, to transcend and transform the small and large difficult realities of life. Gradually, I developed my style which is that I paint the colors and shapes that convey the glorious landscapes that are abundant in nature and also inspire me. I characterize my paintings as being semi- abstract, because the sky, mountains, water, and trees are all recognizable as such. It is my unique sensibility to nature that I paint. In the words of William Wordsworth, “There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, the earth and every common sight, to me did seem appareled in celestial light, the glory and the freshness of a dream.”
I feel lucky to have art in my life, primarily as an artist, but also because I continually view other artists, both masters of the past and the exceptional artists living now. I also study the social realities that have influenced artists historically, and impact on the work of artists today.
Impending Storm
(Oil on Canvas, 9” x 12”)
One day, looking up, I saw an eerie color in the sky. Glancing at the horizon there was an unusual light area and further down a huge white cap on the water. In a semi-abstract way, this is what I tried to capture in the painting- “Impending Storm”. The impending storm was metaphoric for me in relation to the existence of the Coronavirus and its future course. At this time in March of 2020, we did not have vaccines.