Bank Street Gallery
A Londoner, schooled in Scotland, Anna Jacobs is back living in her home city with her two young children. Her life, from the outset, has been busy – packed with variety and achievement. A classics graduate, she has sailed tall ships between movie sets, formed an acappella band which performed on television, radio and in the West End and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Simon Cowell and Michael Ball. You can hear her voice on Robson & Jerome’s number one album! Postgraduate studies at both Chelsea and St Martin’s Art Colleges brought her to her current incarnation – but even now her focus is not singular. She somehow finds time to look after her two young children, tutor at her old art school, develop a line of greeting cards which are sold internationally and give lectures on upcycling at such august events as this year’s House & Gardens magazine’s Spirit of Summer Affair. (And did we mention that she is currently developing a course for Chelsea on upcycling furniture?)
How she finds time to paint remains something of a miracle. Perhaps it is partly the influence of her mentor – Trevor Bell, a leading member of the younger generation of St. Ives artists.
Much of Anna’s show at Bank Street Gallery comprises flying birds. The series is created in pen and ink, producing clarity and simplicity both in colour and line. As Jacobs describes, there is no room for error - once the mark is made, it is there. It is not possible to rework the mark and so the form requires a particular discipline and focus. On the other hand, pen and ink, in Jacob’s hands, produces a wonderfully free-flowing line. The juxtaposition of both aspects perfectly represents the sense of flight and engineering in a bird’s wing. Jacobs describes the series as a representation of the moment when “you finally fall into the pocket of who you naturally are – free from the dictat and concerns of others. The moment when you fly free. A time of exhilaration and peace; tremendous movement and stillness; happiness and strength”.
Varied media is a particular hallmark of Anna Jacobs’ work. In her botanical series, she uses plaster, acrylic and ink, on board. Depending on the environment, the plaster can take only forty minutes to dry and so time is of the essence in producing these demanding images. Precision in their composition is essential and yet the form must be produced speedily. The genre produces a certain spontaneity – and a wonderful exposition of Anna’s technical skills.
Anna Jacob’s life and personality brim full of passion and enthusiasm – just like her paintings. Yet her images are not daunting or overwhelming for her audience. Her work draws you in to that pocket she has found for herself – for a moment you feel content to be still - in the space around her work. Enjoy!
Anna Jacobs show runs from 9th August 2013 to 20th September 2013