Abstract artist Jen Sterling describes her artwork as “bold, colorful, inspiring, energetic and unapologetic.” It is artwork that is “meant to spark a reaction, inspire proactive action, lift a mood,” she says. “I want you, as the viewer, to feel the energy and emotion I had while painting it.”

Koi, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48"

Her inspiration can come from almost anywhere, and having her phone with her at all times lets Sterling snap photos or take notes if an idea comes about.“I hate to lose a single spark,” she says. “I even keep paper and pen by the bed so that I don’t miss out on that idea that occurs when I am half asleep and my brain is free to play. Sometimes a spark leads to one piece and other times it will lead to half a dozen paintings in a series. I never know until I am in the thick of it and the spark tells me where we are going this time.”

Many of Sterling’s pieces are nature inspired. Her painting Koi was derived by the “flicks of light and motion that you see in a koi pond,” while the paired works Under the Wave #2 and Under the Wave #3 are what she thinks it looks like under crashing ocean waves. Then there are pieces, such as Parrot Feathers, which Sterling painted primarily with her fingers, that bring to life the feeling of animals. In this work, featuring bright colors that mimic the wings of the colorful bird, Sterling “wanted to embed my personal motion into the canvas.”Parrot Feathers, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36"

Collectors of Sterling’s artwork generally comment on its color, layering and depth. She explains, “The colors are what first grab the viewer and draw them to the canvas. The depth/layers are what holds the viewer in place…they see more and more the longer they look. It allows the painting to become more of an experience and less of a thing.”

Some of her paintings, such as Violet Energy, are inspired by the colors themselves and how she can convey an emotion to the viewer through that color. “I was inspired by a friend who loves the color purple,” Sterling explains of the piece. “I wanted to push myself to create depth and motion with a monochromatic palette.”PrePandemic, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30"

Sterling’s approach to her artwork can almost be seen as an opposition of her 30-year career in graphic design where much of her time was spent being “analytic and gridded and strategic.” Some days, when in front of the canvas, she finds herself still overthinking every detail in a similar way. “Those are the days I am better off just walking out of the studio and doing something else for the day,” Sterling says. “For my paintings, I need to completely let go of any rules or guidelines and just apply emotion to the canvas.”Under the Wave #2, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36"

Under the Wave #3, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36"To begin, Sterling just paints, putting marks and colors quickly on the canvas and getting into the “flow of mark and response,” she says. “Each stroke or shape leads me to the next one on the path.
I have had paintings where I knew before the first mark was made exactly what it would look like at the end. But, more often than not, I am as surprised as anyone at the final result. It is almost like getting to your office and not remembering actually driving there. My brain goes into a flow and I follow the path the painting provides.”Jen Sterling in her Annapolis, Maryland, studio.

The pandemic has also influenced Sterling’s artwork, such as in PrePandemic. Describing the piece, she says, “It was something I physically felt I had to get out of me and onto the canvas,” she explains. “Once I had done that, I realized it was my feeling of [being overwhelmed].”

Sterling’s artwork has been exhibited in several mid-Atlantic galleries and it has been licensed for use by corporate brands. Her work is currently on display at Circle Gallery and Gallery 57 West in Annapolis. August 25 to October 10, Quiet Waters Willow Gallery, also in Annapolis, will host a solo exhibition for the artist after the event was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic. —

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