In our Artist Feature for the month, we introduce you to two local artists who find their inspiration in the natural world. We decided to reach out to Jason Abbott and Jessica Belvin-Coker, for a quick “Q + A”, to find out a little bit more about them and to see if the current quarantine has changed their work in any way.

Meet Jason Abbott

Q: Can you describe your work in three words?

A: Natural, Fluid, Harmonious

Q: What type of work do you do and what kind of mediums do you use?

A: I focus mainly on landscapes in oils now.  Sometimes I use acrylics depending on my mood.  Most of my life I drew using graphite and ink. I would say the ink sketches are still where my heart is, but oils offer a challenge that I don’t feel I will ever be truly comfortable with.  There is always that desire to make a scene look more natural, more realistic, without being stoic and mechanical.

Q: Where do you draw most of your inspiration from?

A: I draw inspiration from the scenery around me.  We are so fortunate here in the Tidewater to experience a constant interplay of water, land, and sky.  I am also unashamedly inspired by other artists. I am keen to try and not copy an artist’s subject or style or technique, but when I see a work that really grabs me …. it’s hard not to incorporate a piece of that in my next attempt.

Q: Have you always been artistic?

A: I have always drawn and created.  As a child, I remember drawing pictures all the time.  It was how I dealt with sitting in class for 8 hours a day.  

I had the Childcraft series of books, if anyone remembers those, and my favorite one was the dark blue one entitled “Make and Do”, I believe.  It was full of arts and crafts, and my parents would try to accomodate my collection of materials needed to complete as many of the crafts in the book as I could.  

At a very young age I remember seeing Albrecht Durer’s wood prints and engravings and thinking that his work was as good as it could get.  “The Knight, Death, and the Devil” had me drawing nothing but pictures of devils and bat wings when I was 5 and 6 years old, thinking back it probably caused some concern for my parents.

Q: Did you grow up in a creative family? 

A: My parents were very creative.  My mother with the way she cooked and the sense of comedy that she instilled in us, and my father used his creativity in the remodeling of houses and an ability to fix anything and everything.  They are both two of the most self-reliant humans I’ve known, and I believe that is the essence of creativity.

Q: How did this influence you and your path in life?

A: Mainly by instilling the confidence in me that anything that someone else can do I could also do it, if I apply the work necessary.

Q: What has been the most challenging part of being an artist?

A: The most challenging part of being an artist for me is staying inspired.  It is rare that I want to paint. It is usually something that hits me out of the blue and I have to take advantage of that drive while it lasts.  Most of the time it is like trying to make yourself eat when you have no appetite.

Q: Has being in quarantine changed your work or the way that you work in any way?

A: The funny part of being in a “quarantined” state is that I have actually had more time than ever to paint and have not painted at all.   My wife asks me, “Why aren’t you painting? You have all this time…” I think that, like most people, the uncertainty and the unprecedented (at least in our lifetime) nature of this event has most of us in a level of anxiety that we’re not sure exactly how to cope with.  There is such a feeling of a suspended, limbo existence right now, I find it hard to incorporate something that it is so important to me.

Q: Where would you like to see your work go in the future?

A: I am really unsure of where I would like my art to go, other than to improve.  

The art that I have produced has never been an intellectual or planned pursuit.  I have seen some artists that develop a concept for their art, plan it, layout designs.  I have tried this, thinking that it is the “correct” way to create art. It never worked for me.  But who knows, it may be exactly what I need in order to grow as an artist.  

I would like to try sculpting.  The few times I have tried, it was very satisfying, but my family has to share our living room with me as my studio, so I think bringing in a table and clay may upset an already delicate balance.  One day.

To experience more of Jason’s work you can visit his website or follow him on Instagram (@jasonabbott.art) or Facebook

Meet Jessica Belvin-Coker

Q: Can you describe your work in three words?

A: Whimsical, lively, earthy. Those would probably be the first 3 drawn out of the pot.

Q:What type of work do you do and what kind of mediums do you use? 

A: My work mainly revolves around the natural world. I like to capture the scenes of our native wildlife and make it into something of my own, with an emphasis on natural history illustration. Watercolor is my one and only. I joke sometimes that watercolor chose me – I did not choose watercolor. I’m so glad that it did.

Q: Where do you draw most of your inspiration from? 

A: Most of my inspiration comes from my own backyard. I grew up on the York River and all the secret creeks it holds. The woods, the water, and anything related to the amazing Chesapeake Bay has been my reason. I’m an avid birder and naturalist, so that pairs with the painting aspect. My inspirations started to blossom even more when I moved to Urbanna; nestled right along the Rappahannock River. The waterfowl here in the winter is truly amazing, especially spring migration with all the warblers and neotropical migrants passing through. This place has shaped me into the artist I am today. 

Q: Have you always been artistic?

A: In some way or another, yes. When it came to painting and drawing…I had to find that side of me by complete accident. I did not know I could “draw” until I tried. I was completely shocked and amazed when I realized my hands, eyes, and brain were communicating in a way that was so foreign, but felt as if I’ve been doing it all along. That’s where it all began.

Q: Did you grow up in a creative family? 

A: Honestly, I might be the first painter from my small family!

Q: What has been the most challenging part of being an artist?

A: Sharing my work has probably been the most challenging part. You create a piece of your soul, share it with the world and hope for the best. A lot of time and energy goes into one drawing or one painting. It’s so much more than putting color on paper, you really have to mentally prepare and work for it in other ways as well. I suppose fear of rejection almost stopped me from sharing. With time, I’ve slowly let go of that fear. 

Q: Has being in quarantine changed your work or the way that you work in any way?

A: 2020 has definitely been an interesting year. This quarantine has actually been positive. I have been able to slow down, re-evaluate and look at my process from a new perspective. I’ve actually started to work on new ideas and step out of my comfort zone. Watercolor is so fluid; there are so many things that can be done, so I’m tapping into my creative side again. I’m thankful for this step-back and being able to have an extended break on life to improve. I tell myself that there is always room to improve with  each day. 

Q: Where would you like to see your work go in the future?

A: I would truly love to illustrate and paint pieces for organizations that do a lot for our natural world. National Audubon Society, Ocean Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, VIMS, and The Chesapeake Bay Foundation are a few to name. I really want to inspire more individuals with my work, possibly spark an interest about the importance of biodiversity. I hope someone is able to get outside, explore and listen… and maybe, they will carry and pass the candle to someone else and so on. 

To experience more of Jessica’s work you can view her piece in our Juried Show exhibit page. You can also follow her on Instagram (@coastalvawild) to view her artwork/photographs and be updated on when her website launches.

Please note that the opinions expressed by the artists are their own, in their own words, and are not necessarily opinions expressed or shared by Arts On Main or its representatives.