Ideas flow onto artist’s canvas

Jacqueline Schwartz stands beside one of her featured paintings which were on display for a month.

You’ve heard of hidden talents - those abilities that have not been explored or skills that have not been tapped.

That term could be used to describe Jacqueline Grannis Schwartz’s step into painting. Her first art exhibition just concluded earlier this month.

“I started painting in 2006. I had done nothing before,” said Schwartz. “I’ve collected since the late 60s and visited lots of art museums.”

A glimmer, a small kernel or something seemed to have been touched on a trip to Florida and a couple of stops at art centers.

“Surely I could do something,” thought Schwartz. “I could try.”

So, with no art classes in her past, none scheduled at that time and with only this intense desire “to try,” Schwartz bought paper and children’s water paints and followed a book designed to help amateurs draw and paint.

“For the next few years I painted out of a book,” Schwartz shared.

Then Schwartz began to add classes. She took advantage of the Osher Lifetime Learning Institute at the University of Kentucky and added classes here and there as she developed her technique and opened her mind to different ideas. The best piece of advice she was offered was “buy good paper and good brushes,” which she does.

Watercolors were Schwartz’s first medium and she expressed a fondness for still life. What she calls her “first” painting featured a tall vase containing artificial flowers and berries. She took the piece to her mother since the arrangement was hers.

“Jacqueline, how did you do that?” her mother, Josephine Thomas, asked.

“I don’t know,” her daughter responded, somewhat amazed at what she had been able to do.

Schwartz said that she was “slow” with her art work until she retired.

“I’ve done more in the past four years,” Schwartz added. “I’ll get an idea at 11 at night and at 2 a.m. I am still working. I can’t keep my fingers still.”

Schwartz’s work has been displayed in the past at art shows featuring multiple artists. However, last month’s exhibit at the Jessamine County Public Library featured only her work and included some new areas where she has taken her brush.

Schwartz stopped often at the show’s “end of the run reception” on Sept. 1 to explain her three torn-paper pieces. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Bits are torn from magazines with good quality pages featuring photos with a depth of color. Those bits are then applied to and with her paints to complete the pictures - in this case a giraffe, a lion and an elephant.

This artist works primarily in watercolors but has tried her hand at oils and acrylics. Her collection included fabric collages and mixed media pieces. Along the way she has also tried quilting.

Part of her creativity, once it was unleashed, might be traced to her mother whom she described as “ahead of her time with ideas.”

“I want to evolve, to be able to share, to be a mentor in a way, to offer encouragement to others,” said Schwartz.

Schwartz is a Fleming County native with many family members living in the area. She makes her home in Nicholasville.

Jacqueline Schwartz talks with visitors to the end-of-the-run reception following her month-long show.

This is Jacqueline Schwartz’s first attempt at a still life after inspecting, studying, practicing and then attempting her hand at her newfound talent.