Join Jen Starwalt at The Gallery at Flat Rock on Saturday, June 22, for an Artist Spotlight event from 1 – 4 pm.
Jen Starwalt has always felt a profound connection to nature, a bond that vividly manifests in her art. Her work is deeply rooted in her experiences and interactions with wildlife, but her unique approach to creating art defines her. Starwalt’s art isn’t just about capturing the external appearance of her subjects; it’s about conveying their disposition, nature, and the interconnectedness of life and survival.
Starwalt’s art is a culmination of a lifetime of experiences and reflections. Her fascination with wildlife, nurtured from a young age, has evolved into a mature and profound connection. Each piece of her art reflects these moments, revealing the transformative power of nature.
Her use of soft pastels gives Starwalt’s work its vibrancy and purity of color. Artists favor them for their ability to create a wide range of effects, from delicate, smooth transitions to bold, intense marks. They are used on various surfaces, with textured or sanded papers being top-rated for their ability to hold multiple layers of pastel. However, the downside of soft pastels is that they require careful handling and preservation to remain in their original form since they never fully dry or harden.
While many see framing as merely decorative, it is crucial to protect soft pastel paintings. Starwalt collaborates with Dragonfly Frame and Art in Brevard, NC, to develop a contemporary framing technique that uses spacers instead of traditional mats. This method adds depth and volume to the framing without detracting from the artwork. “The spacer is completely unobtrusive to the painting, only adding a sense of depth and volume to the framing,” she explains. This approach protects her work and enhances its presentation, making each piece a cohesive and elegant display.
Before having her work professionally framed, Starwalt developed meticulous methods to preserve it, further ensuring its longevity. Traditional pastel paper is not durable enough for the scale and intensity of her work, so she uses archival sanded pastel paper, which resembles coarse sandpaper used in carpentry. This type of paper holds the many layers of pigment she applies but also requires additional support. Starwalt mounts her paper onto thick archival boards, preventing warping and ensuring the durability of her art. Using the above materials allows her to work upright on an easel, giving her the freedom to create large, immersive pieces. Once a piece is finished, the preservation process continues.
“The paper I use does a great job of holding onto the many layers of pigments, but small amounts of dust and flaking are normal,” Starwalt says. To mitigate this, she uses a spray fixative, a practice she has perfected over the years. The spray she uses is an ancient formula, most well-documented by Degas. It’s an organic casein protein base suspended in alcohol, which acts as a glue to hold the pastel pigments in place without altering their color or texture. Applying this fixative requires precision. Starwalt lays her paintings flat and uses an ultra-fine mister to create a gentle, even mist. “I apply several very light coats, usually 3-4, letting each layer fully cure before applying another,” she notes. This process ensures her paintings are virtually dust-free and durable enough to withstand handling and transport.
Although her final images appear as a strict, well-defined, and pre-planned work of art, Starwalt’s artistic process is surprisingly intuitive. “There is usually a calling to the piece I start,” she says. This intuitive knowing guides her from the initial sketch to the final touches. She begins each piece with a sketch, often using a projector to ensure anatomical accuracy. “The pastels are an unforgiving medium; once the first layer has been put in, it cannot be adjusted. I can only build on what is there,” she explains. This necessity for precision at the outset means that every mark is deliberate, every layer intentional.
She explains that one of her work’s most critical aspects is capturing her subjects’ eyes. “I start with the eyes,” she says, then adds, “Capturing the soul is the top priority.” This focus on the eyes brings her subjects to life, creating a connection between the artwork and the viewer. Starwalt does not use a predetermined palette; instead, she allows the colors to flow naturally, guided by her intuition. This organic approach imbues her work with spontaneity and vitality, making each piece unique.
Starwalt’s work is a dialogue between light and shadow, warm and cool tones. “Each mark I make has its vibration, its voice,” she explains. When layered together, these marks create a complex interplay of colors that converse with one another, altering perceptions depending on their surroundings. The colors harmonize as she builds the layers, creating a unified, complex whole. “It is the same with the complexity of our experiences and emotions; individually, we are unique, but when put together, we create beautiful oneness,” she reflects.
As Starwalt explains, her art, at its core, is mostly about inspiring a deeper connection and appreciation for the natural world. If so, her work will connect viewers to the beauty and spirit of the wild, showing what we stand to lose if preservation isn’t attended to. She encourages her viewers to take an interest in these beautiful creatures, many of whom are endangered. “My life’s work is to connect the viewer to the beauty and spirit of the wild. To protect what I love,” she says.
Starwalt’s love for wildlife is evident in her choice of subjects. Bison, bears, and owls frequently appear in her work, each chosen for their symbolic significance and personal impact on her life. “The bison have been the most impactful for me, but it is the bear that I see and paint the most,” she notes. Living in the mountains of western North Carolina has given her countless opportunities to observe these creatures up close, experiences she translates into her art with excellent fidelity.
Her encounters with wildlife are fleeting moments and profound connections that inform her creative process. “Wildlife has started to find me. Everywhere I go, I hear bears don’t come around here, and then one by one, they show up, hanging in my yard,” she says. These interactions reinforce her belief in the interconnectedness of all life, a theme that runs through her work.
For Starwalt, creating art expresses her deep reverence for nature and her commitment to conservation. Each painting shows her love for wildlife and her desire to inspire others to cherish and protect the natural world. Through her meticulous techniques and intuitive process, she brings the beauty and spirit of the wild to life, inviting viewers to see the natural world through her eyes.
Starwalt’s use of soft pastels goes beyond being just a medium; it serves as a conduit for connection. It captures the essence of her subjects and speaks to the soul, evoking a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world.
Through her work, she hopes to inspire a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all life and a commitment to preserving the beauty of the wild for future generations.
*The above article is based on my interview with Jen Starwalt in August 2023. We covered a lot of ground, and the article I wrote from that interview couldn’t contain everything we discussed. If you want to read the first article, please visit RRM’s website and go to the past issues section for September 2023.
