Jaclyn's art was showcased at Riga's European Cafe and Bakery June 2008

Q&A with the Artist
Q: How would you characterize your work?

Jaclyn: I am a very emotional and expressive person, and although I find the process of creating art highly therapeutic, I believe its potential is much greater than this. I am often overwhelmed by social concerns, and my discontentment with what I see and read is the driving force behind my art, becoming essentially my desire for progress. I feel that art in all its forms has the potential to be the impetus for social awareness, healing, and change. My life's goal is to use art as not only a creative outlet but as a means of communication, to ignite in others a recognition of the need for togetherness and unity.

Moving away from my home state, New Mexico gave me the ability to appreciate where I came from. My current work is strongly influenced by the Hispanic and Native American culture that surrounded me, as well as by my predominantly matriarchal family. Most of my paintings touch on the characterization of women, and the enigmatic history of my culture.

My challenge is to find a way to use color, content, and composition to clearly express these ideas and beliefs I hold so dear.

Q: What is your favorite medium and why? What is your range of mediums?

Jaclyn: I prefer oils, those being the first paints I ever used. The creamy consistency is unique and the medium can be manipulated in a variety of ways. I'm always learning new things the pigment can do and it continues to challenge me.

Some of my paintings are also done in acrylic. In addition to paints, I have worked with various sculpting materials including plaster, ceramic clay, molding materials, and wood. I love that there are no limitations to the images you can create two-dimensionally, but I find three-dimensional artwork equally satisfying. Working with your hands and body to create a sculpture is very gratifying. I enjoy mixing media and incorporating found objects into my design. For me, there is no clear line separating a painting and a sculpture, so I like to use physical objects in my paintings to further blur that distinction.

Q: Where have you studied art? Where have you exhibited work?

Jaclyn: When I was 17 I had an amazing opportunity to study under professional artists in the city of Albuquerque. I learned a great deal about the art world during this apprenticeship and was not only able to show several paintings in an Albuquerque gallery, but I also took part in a collaborative mural that was displayed in Albuquerque's downtown district.

Last Year, I showed my work in a little venue in Colorado Springs with various artists from New Mexico and Colorado. Recently, I have also had the opportunity to display my paintings in South First Billiards alongside many talented artists from the San Jose area and in De Anza's student art show.

I am currently attending De Anza College with hopes to transfer in the fall. I have taken a wide array of fine arts courses there and have found the professors to be a huge source of encouragement and knowledge.