Aleea Jaques (born 1966) is a self-taught artist living and working in Northville, Michigan. Bright colours and defined details characterise her artwork.
How did you get into art?
I accidentally discovered art while at a friend’s house when she was painting on flower pots. I started painting everything in sight - I was totally obsessed!
How would you describe your style? What makes your work special?
My work breaks convention with penetrating colors and a humorous rearrangement of anatomy. I paint bold figures, some who unravel norms such as my painting entitled “Anais,” in reference to the French writer, Anais Nin’s hedonistic lifestyle. At times, I employ anatomically incorrect limbs, and paint faces full of expression, even though the eyes and lips have “slid” off and landed elsewhere in the painting.
How do you go about developing your work?
I start with spreading paint around a blank canvas then draw in the wet paint with marking tools. From there, I start to develop the composition with the placement of the figure. I continue this process until I have made several overlapping layers. As I near the finish line, I enhance a few of the colors and top it off with more mark-making, such as a grid or scribbles to add detail. In the end, I have created a bold and conversational painting using toy-like shapes and vibrant colors. Like the spirited energy of a child, my painting cannot be ignored.
Who or what influences you?
I named this collection, Picasso’s Cronies, in consideration for the colorful creators in the early decades of the 20th Century. Those painters, writers, and musicians who romanced history as they pushed boundaries - both in work and in life - are my muse.
Make us curious. What is planned next?
I will be in Art Basel Miami at the end of this year for the first time. I also have several gallery shows in the works.
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