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Local artist Vernon Jones is gaining a reputation as one of the finest seascape artists working today. City Life met Vernon to find out what inspires him.
ABOVE US...THE WAVES
Tell us about yourself
I was born in Pontypool and educated there, until leaving to study at my second College for a H.N.D. in Design/Wildlife Illustration at CCTA Gelli Aur, West Wales. I have lived and worked in different parts of the UK, experimenting and exploring possibilities with art and its ‘uses’ to us as people, and to myself. I enjoy very much to socialise and meet new people, and to discover new concepts usually through conversation. Travel is also very important to me.
Please tell us about your art…
My art now is an exploration of the sea, with land and sky elements that are included in the composition in most cases. It is a subject that I can relate to, as with most of us probably, maybe just as fire can hold our gaze, so does the sea and its various ‘moods’. It is perfect for me as I love the detail and difference, which I strive for in my work. It is important for me to balance all parts and elements, and in this way becomes a problem solving exercise which I enjoy. But I also need to keep the motion of the sea, and this needs freedom. Control and freedom together, and all must ‘feel’ balanced and in harmony with whatever is surrounding or next to any one part of the painting. The final composition must feel balanced.
Have you a lifelong ambition?
I want to be successful in my work, and also in my life, which can mean different things depending on the person of course. For me it is a mixture of what I want and what I need. What I want may not always be what I need. In this way I set myself goals and ask God for help (what ever you believe God to be). I just try to meet the world half way, to be able to move with opportunity when it comes, and try to feel what I need to do. I feel guidance, and I feel not to try to control everything, but to work, to ‘listen’, to try to be in balance with change, with living, with where I am going and what I will do in my life.
What do you do to relax?
Cafés are a big love of mine. Just to take time to sit and relax with coffee or tea, by myself or with others. I also enjoy restaurants, walking and films.
When I can, I try to get to the sea, get the wet suit on and show people how not to stay on your surf board! Its fun... I love also to photograph the sea, and am always looking to build on my own reference library of interesting studies and compositions of the sea.
What’s your work ethic?
To create good quality canvases, and not to ‘hang on’ to my finished works. I want them out in the world so that people can, I always hope, enjoy them.
What do you like about Cardiff?
Cardiff is a place where the feeling, the atmosphere is good for me. It is also easy to get around, and there is everything you need in the centre. The bay area is very nice, and there are good bars, restaurants etc. in Cardiff, I think something for everyone. Also there is a good mixture of people in Cardiff. It has nice buildings in the centre, various communities, and the most important of all-I like the people.
What’s the most memorable thing to ever happen to you?
That is difficult to say, and so I will share one of them. I travelled to Norway via Finland a good many years ago, and found myself camping alone at the edge of a fjord. It was a still night, very peaceful and no one around. I remember the first time seeing what must have been the Northern Lights, and I enjoyed to sit looking out at the sea playing my bodhran, which is a type of drum, surrounded by this peace and nature. That was a beautiful place.
What’s your most challenging painting to date?
Maybe it was a commission not so long ago, which was from a gentleman who wanted me to paint for him a trolley bus with the view down St. Mary Street in Cardiff. It was very difficult to see the cables, actually, I think I couldn’t see them, only where they were coming from. I had no knowledge at all of this whole set up, and had to use reference from another source to try to understand just what I was to do with this! In the end I got it, at least he was very happy, but that was a tough puzzle to solve! I’m glad of the result, and glad that he was happy.
You can view Vernon’s works at the following venues.
April Pontypool Museum
July Petrovac Na Moru, Montenegro
August Washington Gallery, Penarth,
Sept/Oct Galleria Micro, Torino, Italy
Vernon also welcomes commissioned pieces from individuals and companies.
I’m very good at…
Detail
I’m very bad at…
Surfing.
My pet hate is…
Ignorance.
I love…
Travelling.
My favourite meal is…
Veggie sausages, mash potatoes and thick veggie gravy with fresh bread and butter.
My favourite drink is…
Café mocha.
I’m currently listening to…
Metallica, 25 Yard Screamer, other metal and dream theatre.
I’m watching…
24, CSI, Ultimate Survivor and films.
If I could change anything...
Suffering in this world.
Three words that describe me are…
Creative, friendly, thoughtful.
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