Gallery With A Cause • Located in the New Mexico Cancer Center • Benefitting the NMCC Foundation
Please call gallery director Regina Held to arrange a private gallery tour, make a purchase, or ask any questions.
Biography
Jeannie Sellmer was born in New Jersey and graduated from The Art Institute of Boston in 1978 with a diploma in Fine Art, Painting. Her artistic training was traditional in that it was focused on representational painting, drawing the human form daily, and mastering perspective and composition. She developed her skills in the medium of oil paint and studied Art History and Anatomy.
In 2005, Jeannie moved to New Mexico and soon after joined Plein Air Painters of NM, where she met many artists interested in painting the landscape. The paintings she made were quick, realistic studies which were used as references to make larger studio paintings. Over time, her studio paintings underwent a shift through editing, refining, and distilling the image to its essentials. Her paintings became less literal, evolving into expressive transcripts of her emotional connection to the landscape. The details of the scene became less important and the composition, color relationships, and the surface texture became the more dominate theme. It was a path that eventually led to the abstracted landscapes she makes now.
Jeannie Sellmer has been recognized as one of McGaw Graphics’ “Ten Top-Selling Women Artists.” In 2011, she was honored by the Albuquerque Art Business organization as a “Local Treasure” based on her outstanding contributions to the visual arts. Her artwork has appeared in numerous films and TV shows including “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.”
Artist Statement
I am passionate about creating paintings that evoke both a sense of energy and contemplation, inviting the viewer to engage in the visual field with a sense of meandering exploration and open interpretation.
My ideas are primarily influenced by nature and organic forms. While my work reflects observations of the external world, it is also about expressing my deep reverence for nature. I often feel I wander about in a state of marvel at nature’s fragile complexity and continual restoration of its delicate balance–its infinite proof of the exquisite interconnectedness of all living things.
My creative process involves painting with layers of colors over multiple sessions, building up and scraping away layers, eventually revealing the meaning I am searching for. I aim to create paintings that evoke emotions on a deeper level, using colors and textures that convey the essence of land, sky, and light. My goal is to create a space that captures the beauty of nature and brings a sense of tranquility and wellbeing to those who view it.
The act of painting is a dynamic and analytical process driven by intuition. I explore visual possibilities through layered colors, textures, and marks, employing various media to build a language that resonates on multiple levels.
