Down by the River
Today we meet Northern Virginia-based artist, Juniper Briggs. From the very first moment I saw Juniper’s work at the ANFA gallery here in Charlotte, North Carolina, I was immediately drawn to it. While the artist’s work is in the Cubism style, first popularized by Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso, what I love most about her work is its female focus. Like they often say with writing, “Write what you know,” Painting a subject that is familiar to you also yields the best result. It is this female-focused perspective with its beauty and contemplation that makes Juniper’s work unique.
When did you first know that you wanted to pursue a career as an artist?
I never considered myself an artist, although I always made art in one form or another. It was just something I did for myself.
After a move across the country and the birth of my second daughter, I was feeling particularly unmoored. I needed a creative outlet, something just for me. My husband built me an easel and I started painting out in our garage while the babies were napping. It was the early years of Instagram and I started sharing my work. Back then I painted mostly abstracts but they seemed to resonate. That led me to try more figurative works. People started asking to buy my pieces so I set up a website. That was over a decade ago and I’ve been a working artist ever since.
What drew you to the Cubism style of art and more specifically a female-focused perspective of this style?
I love the elegant simplicity of Cubism. I’ve always been drawn to figurative art. I found some old journals a while ago with doodles of abstract figures throughout. Looking back, I can see the thread of my influences. I remember getting a calendar full of Pre-Raphaelite Rossetti, portraits in high school and cutting them out to hang all over my room. In college I studied abroad, first in Mexico and then in Spain, returning to live in Barcelona after graduation. I fell in love with the figurative folk art in Mexico and the Cubism I saw in Spain.
My work is mostly female-focused because, as a woman pulling from my own experiences, that’s what I’m drawn to and what feels most natural to me.
A Lemon a Day
How has this particular style allowed you to explore your love of color and shape?
I get to play with colors and shapes all day long. I love the process of breaking down forms to convey familiar compositions in unexpected ways. The same goes for color. I rarely have a plan and there are no rules when it comes to exploring contrasting combinations. It’s the best job in the world!
Is there a particular color that you use most often in your work?
I’m prone to use different shades of teal. Peach and indigo are also favorites, although yellows and oranges almost always work their way into my pieces too. It’s too hard to choose… I love them all!
Do you always sketch a new piece on paper before going to the canvas?
It just depends on the piece. There are times when I sketch out the composition before transferring it to the canvas. Other times I just let the painting lead me without any plan at all.
At what point during your process do you title a new piece?
I usually wait until the very end to title a piece. If I do it the other way around, I’m more apt to try to control things too much, letting the title lead the way instead of the painting process itself.
Out of all the pieces you’ve created commissioned or otherwise, do you have a personal favorite?
No. My favorites are constantly changing.
Tell me about the process of creating one of your paintings.
The thing I love about creating is it’s something I can’t explain. No painting process is the same. It’s a beautiful mess of instinct and the only time that I don’t overthink.
What do you enjoy the most about working with the ANFA (Anne Neilson Fine Art) Gallery?
Without a doubt, it’s the people that I get to work with there. They champion my work and support me in such a beautiful way. I am so, so appreciative of that. My Christian faith is also essential to me. Knowing some of Anne’s testimony, and sharing that faith with the gallery owner is also a huge blessing.
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