Working with just a humble blue ball point pen and an extraordinary imagination, Jessica has elevated drawing to a new level. Her ability to achieve works of such tonal depth and draftsmanship with the common ball point pen is a feat that defies description. However this is not where the inimitable work ends. Jessica’s imagination has no limits. Combined with her technical mastery, her inspired subject matter leads us into another world of intricate, detailed poetic art full of lyrical and imaginative symbols. The devotion of time and skill combined with a sense of rhythm and design, meticulously drawn by hand, flows through each work, a work of love. Who could imagine the pen could rise to such subliminal heights? Jessica‘s drawings have become highly sought after.

Past exhibitions:

Stock show, 9 March – 15 April, 2012

I must confess I love that which caresses me, 12 October – 6 November, 2011

Original drawings sold out. Limited edition of 20 unframed prints of each drawing available in full and half size.

The underlying theme in my work is human emotions, fear, sadness, joy, loneliness, longing, contentment, pride.  These emotions or feelings are often the starting point for a drawing and guide the mood that I want the image convey. What I am particularly interested in is moments of ambiguous emotions.  With the drawing ‘I love that which caresses me’ I wanted to create an image that is both beautiful and repulsive at the same time.  It is unclear if the lady in the drawing wants to be in the forest covered in snails and the lady herself does not know either.  There is a slight smile on her face but hands suggest that she is uncertain and anxious about the situation.

The elements in the drawings I choose partly for aesthetic reasons but also for values that I associate with them. The hare I draw because to me it is the embodiment of fear and instinct. It is both noble and ridiculous.  Unlike its cute cousin the rabbit it does not burrow so its defence is to either run fast or stay very still. The dress I draw because it is beautiful and because it removes the scene from the modern day and places it in another world or another time. Snails because they are oddly sensuous (not everyone will agree) and revolting.  They are also really lovely to draw. The caravan is for some people a holiday others a home, it is an image or a symbol that many people respond to.  To me the little caravan is vulnerable, it is stranded in big landscape and has no car to pull it, but it also provides shelter and protection.

I am often asked about why I use ball point pen and what I do if I make a mistake.  One reason for using ball point pen is the colour but also the quality and range of line that can be achieved.  It is similar to using a lead pencil but with ball point pen the lines stay quite clear which I think helps to give the drawings depth and energy.  If I make a mistake and it’s really bad I start again otherwise I make it darker.  The down side to the way I work is that it is very slow, each drawing can take 6 weeks or more to complete.

I hope you enjoy the show.

Jessica Page 2011