Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Clarke
Hi Jean, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My life has made me a firm believer in destiny. I knew I would be an artist when I was just a toddler but I thought that would mean only painting; I had no idea I would experience the art journey I have. From childhood I drew on every available surface including walls, furniture, countertops, and school books (instead of paying attention in class). No one at all encouraged my ambitions. I grew up in a working class environment where people believed in hard reality, not pipe-dreams, so I was pushed toward college and a ‘practical career’. I chose psychology because human behavior interested me, all the while knowing I was not cut out for a structured, nine-to-five life. Something in me had to create and I was miserable doing anything else for long. I really tried fitting the mold but after two years of college knew the career I had chosen would not work for me. I left home and quit school after two years, having no idea how I was going to survive. That’s when fate stepped in.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not smooth at all! At some point I learned I was autistic, with both ADHD and OCD. It explained why I’d had so much trouble concentrating on my studies in school yet had laser-like concentration on any subject that really captured my interest – and those subjects were either scientific (inventive) or one of the arts (creative). I was bad at social skills and almost crippled by shyness. Who would imagine I would end up modeling and acting? My parents were very upset I’d left college but my mother decided that a charm school might nudge me out of my shell and help me find a husband (marriage was considered my only alternative) So I was enrolled and, while there, was asked to model in tea room shows at a department store. Somehow I managed to do that without falling into some customers nice tea and pastry and this gave me courage. I also met photographers, who coaxed me into posing for a portfolio, which one of them sent to the Nina Blanchard Agency, L.A’s equivalent to the Ford Agency in New York. I was given a contract and began modeling and doing TV commercials, but that didn’t mean it was clear sailing. I had to prove myself daily and suffered the usual criticism and rejection the business is rife with. But it made me discover determination – I refused to give up, as many girls around me were doing. I also believed I had comedy talent and was determined to prove it. When comedian Buddy Hackett was scouting a girl for an intricate comedy routine with him in a TV Commercial I won the part over an enormous number of actresses. That gave me the guts to try for an acting agent and when I landed one, I worked on about twenty sitcoms, specials and TV dramas. But doing that I learned that my nature is much more suited to being a primary creator rather than an interpreter and, like most ASD’s, I yearned for the solitary life most of society is trying to avoid. I decided to take on writing and, at the same time began doing fine art – both painting and sculpting. But my restless nature balked at sitting in a chair all day writing. I had to practically chain myself to a desk to do it but, five years and a nervous breakdown later I made a breakthrough and sold some work. Eventually that led to a contract with Aaron Spelling, who hired me as writer/story editor on the ABC show, HOTEL. I had been doing some fine art during that time but could not get the hours necessary in front of the easel to really develop. It turned out I had to wait for retirement from the film industry to do that.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I believe the arts are a universal language that joins people from all places, races, and types, with the ability to uplift and inspire, informing at the level of the subconscious. I am basically self-taught except for clay work where it’s imperative to learn how to handle the medium, so I did study ceramics with the late, wonderful Richard White in Laguna Beach. But I’ve never been daunted by the bare canvas; it’s always been an invitation to me to enter the world of the unknown and open myself to the energies that wish to find expression. My work is abstract, but sometimes very controlled hard-edge and other times wild and chaotic. I absolutely believe that the sensibilities of being on the autism spectrum have been instrumental in forming my artistic expression. The negative about this open approach is not becoming known for a recognizable style, but that hasn’t bothered me. I only need to be creating to be the happiest of humans. Some like one type of work and some another; I have customers for both. As a member of California Creative Artists and LELA International I exhibit in gallery shows throughout the year, all over Los Angeles. I have also shown at Art-a-Fair in the Laguna Beach Festival and many outdoor venues. I’m also a presence on fineartamerica.com, where they offer my prints on various surfaces as well as product applications, and direct clients to me for original paintings. Instagram and Facebook show my work under the title abstract.art.originals and my ETSY boutique presents repurposed constructs at Junkyard2Jazzy. I also have five published novellas available on Kindle.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I do wish I had received art training early in life; I don’t necessarily recommend my path, but that seems to be what life had in store for me. I think schools like Cal Arts that cover the gamut of art careers are fabulous for young creators. But in some ways it’s what I didn’t know that helped me. I had no idea how hard it would be to pursue the life that presented itself and, if I had, I don’t know that I’d have had the courage to try. Being without formal training has not seemed to hinder many artists but some do need structure. And it certainly helps to understand the medium you intend to work in. I learned the color wheel and something about composition in elementary school and have carried that through life into my work. But honestly, I think some careers just have your name on them. Like I said; I truly believe in Destiny.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://3-jean-clarke.artistwebsites.com
- Instagram: Abstract.art.originals
- Facebook: Abstract.art.originals
- Other: ETSY.com – “JUNKYARD 2 JAZZY” (Repurposed Constructs)
Image Credits
Image # 8 – Harry Langdon
