The great thing about art is its diversity.
There are different styles and mediums to satisfy the tastes of varied artists and of those viewing the results.
For artist Jewel Reynolds, the variety is one of the things which has inspired her creativity.
Obviously fantasy is a preferred theme for you. Why? What is about fantasy you like?
鈥淚actually started out with realism and a passion for wild cats, like Iwas obsessed,鈥漵aid Reynolds. 鈥淚didn't like house cats I only liked wild cats, me and my dad actually painted one of my rooms with all the wild cats you could think of on one wall. It was amazing and Iloved it.
鈥淢eand my siblings would bike ride all the way to the Guzoo which was five miles out of town (she grew up at Three Hills, AB.), and feed the animals, this way we would get a free pass in.
鈥淚 would bring my sketch book and just have a day of drawing the animals until it was two then we would bike back.鈥�
But as an artist Reynolds' focus evolved.
鈥淚 also went througha phaseof drawing people,鈥� she said.
鈥淭hen Ifound it got borderline boring so I started experimenting.
鈥淚would make crazy alien creatures and I found it more fun to come up with stories about places that creature would live, why they needed wings or pale blue eyes, why they looked they way they did.
鈥淥r, just in general coming up with an environment that's out of this world.
鈥淭hey just became art pieces Icould explain and share.鈥�
Today, fantastic permeates much of Reynolds' work, although at only age 30 Reynolds, who has lived in Yorkton since 2016, may yet evolve her work.
Whether she does change her focus, it will just be another step on a path started when she was just a youngster.
鈥淚 was interested in art at a really young age because my father, (Robert Sieben), is an artist so I would always draw and colourwith him,鈥� she said.
The passion grew from there.
鈥淎rt was always my favouritething to do in school,鈥� said Reynolds.鈥淚 used to do lots of crafts and was even encouraged to enter colouring contest and events at a young age.鈥�
Reynolds' interest in varied mediums started at a young age too.
鈥淢y first wood burning was of a lynx drinking water at a watering hole,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y dad came into my room one day and said 'Jewel I can trust you right?', then proceeded to hand me a old school wood burning kit. He just wanted to ensure I didn鈥檛 tell my mother and that I didn鈥檛 burn the house down or hurt myself. That was in grade eight I do believe.
鈥淚 used the back of the original burning kit wood sheets provided, needless to say it snapped in half and I ended up just getting rid of it.鈥�
But the journey had begun.
鈥淢y earliest art piece that was recognized in my school was in Grade 5,鈥� said Reynolds. 鈥淲e ended up painting it on a piece of paper to hang in the gymnasium for a performance, I actually still have a picture of the original art piece, My teacher Miss Wiebe laminated it for me and put a boarder around it.
鈥淚 just remember being proud and kinda upset since the paper that the art work was painted on had fallen the night before, and they hung it back up up-side-down.
鈥淚 was also recognized for art in Grade 6 and Grade 7 and received medals.鈥�
Gaining some in-school recognition fired Reynolds's interest farther.
鈥淚t wasn't actually the piece that spurred me it was the people that encouraged me,鈥� she said.鈥淢yfamily was always saying 'Jewel that's cool you should sell it and make something of it'.
鈥淪ometimes friends or classmates would say 'wow that'sgreat. Can you draw me something?'
鈥淚 always had a great support from my family, my friends my teacher Miss Wiebe.鈥�
And the encouragement continues to help.
鈥淔inally I created my first painting collection due to my great partner Caleb Campbell,鈥� said Reynolds. "So many times Ihave asked him his thoughts or advice about things.
鈥淗e also encourages me to finish projects and art pieces before Iwould just give up and walk away.鈥�
But, where does Reynolds gain her inspiration, especially as her work takes on a fantastical focus?
鈥淪ometimes Ihave dreams that are so wacky and random, but some of my art has come from those dreams,鈥� she said.
鈥淪ome art Ihave painted is inspired by photos or just little cute things Irun across via social media.
鈥淏ut most is just from my imagination.
鈥淪ome of my art work coming out now Ihave actually done while super young but held onto because Iwanted to make its day-view into the world as wondrous as Ienvisioned, and wanted to work out all the kinks and mishaps before Iput it out there.鈥�
So does Reynolds have a favourite among her works?
鈥淗onestly this is impossible to answer,鈥� she said. 鈥淚have done art my entire life and Idon鈥檛 think I can pick a favourite.
鈥淎 lot of my older stuff was not as good as where I am today with my own style and likes, so more current work is more my favourite.
鈥淗onestly, I cant tell you which one I like more because Ilike each one for their own reasons.
鈥淎nd, Ifind them all beautiful in their own way.鈥�
It's much the same when it comes to what medium she likes best.
鈥淚 have tried tons of mediums,Isew, draw with markers, pencil crayons, carve, resin, paint with acrylic, oil or watercolour,鈥� said Reynolds. 鈥淚even recently started trying upholstery and tattooing.
鈥淚just like learning new things, and Idon鈥檛 think Iwill ever stop trying new things. All of the mediums I'veused so far Ilove. Ican'tpick one over the other.鈥�
Now Reynolds is taking another step, putting her creations out there for the public to purchase. It was not an easy step to take.
鈥淗onestly yes I'mhorrible at advertising myself and not much confidence when meeting new people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 just recently was encouraged by Caleb to try and he gives me the confidence to even just put it out their. I'm kinda a recluse when it comes to going out; it'sonly to replenish my stash of crafts or tools and Istruggle with talking about my art work.
鈥淢ore or less I hoping my art speaks for itself.鈥�
Anyone interested in her works can contact hervia Facebook or email at [email protected]
