Meet Jean Clarke | Artist, Writer, and general Creative Maniac

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jean Clarke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jean, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I don’t believe I really had a choice. But, because I had been so discouraged from following my intuitive course in life I did try more conventional kinds of work. But I always felt like a fish out of water. There were several things that interested me and I have a high I.Q. so I had options, but I soon realized that I would never be content just working at ‘a job’. As Emile Zola said, “I would rather die of passion than of boredom” and my personality needed something deeply compelling and meaningful – something that presented a big challenge – which the creative world certainly promised. Right away I was confronted by proof that it was not a career choice that offered future security or promise and yet, somehow, I believed it was my only chance at happiness. And happiness was important to me. I had grown up watching people around me really miserable in their work and desperately counting the hours till the weekend. But for me every moment in life seemed precious; I couldn’t bear the idea of spending them in frustration and discontent. The perks of a more predictable profession were temping but I never felt the price I would pay for them was worth what I would lose in their pursuit. And after decades of work in several creative fields, I have no regrets over making the choices I have. But believe me, I had my share of ‘day jobs’ along the way. I have worked at various times as a salesgirl, a medical receptionist, a bartender, a house painter, a hypnotist (!), a film production assistant, a nursery manager…. the creative path is not without speed bumps. But to me it’s always been worth it. Besides freedom from nine-to-five and being my own boss, the act of creation is so immensely satisfying it’s sometimes hard to think of it as work. Not that there aren’t moments when the muse seems to be on vacation, but there are enormous breakthroughs when you produce something you didn’t realize you were capable of. And with each breakthrough you feel you’ve grown at the soul level; you’ve passed some initiation of understanding that you’re now passing on to the world at the subconscious level. And sometimes…. you just make something that’s damned pretty! Throughout my years in acting, writing, painting, sculpting and phtography I’ve added new layers of emotional growth and with them, the quiet satisfaction that I’m working within my tribe. We each come into life with a course of action that works best for us and I was lucky enough, early in life, to have recognized mine. I look forward every day with excitement over the mystery of the creative process and am so grateful for its endlessly astonishing gift.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I make all kinds of art. I’m constantly curious about exploring new methods and tools…. anything in the world around me can serve to inspire. At the moment I’m doing a lot of mixed media and cut-paper collage. I love depth and texture and the assembling of pieces into a whole and also stimulated by the opposing energies of city and country, using both in my work. I’ve just finished a whole urban series and will be displaying those paintings at several shows around Los Angeles.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hmmm…. Well, do you want actual names of places? First, we’d hang out at my house a bit. I love to cook for friends (I’m half Italian so food is a big part of my recreation). I love Vitello’s in Studio City; they make lasagna as well as my grandmother! Then maybe a trip across the street to the patio at Aroma, for tea and pastry. There would definitely be a trip to the beach – a walk on the palisades and the pier in Santa Monica, and a drive up the coast with a stop for lunch at Duke’s, or the Beach Cafe at Paradise Cove. There might be a day-trip to Santa Barbara for seafood and a walk through the outdoor art show that runs along the strand on Sundays. In summer we’d drive down to Laguna Beach to the art festival. We might go over to LACMA to see who’s exhibiting. Or check out the Melrose Avenue gallery scene and have dinner at El Coyote. (And of course, if I had art in a show we’d definitely go to see that!) They would not be allowed to leave without lunch at Langer’s Deli downtown for the famous #19 pastrami or The Smoke House in Burbank where any minute a celebrity might come over from Warner’s Studios. And since all of my friends are animal freaks we might go horseback riding at Griffith Park, see the L.A. Zoo, or go out on a whale watch. At night there would definitely be music on the agenda and, though I don’t have a favorite club, there are always groups in town playing for every taste – in the Valley, West Side, or the South Bay.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I thank both the people who encouraged me – and who discouraged me – along the way. Each contributed in different ways to my determination and survival. But a special shout-out to my seventh grade math teacher, Miss Krum, the first to point me toward art. To acting coach Estelle Harmon, who gave me the nerve to step on-stage without fainting. To screenwriter Hesper Anderson’s workshop group whose valuable help landed me a studio contract. To artist Posy Adler, my fine art ‘mother’, who encouraged and supported me. And my thanks to California Creative Arts, doing so much to support local artists and getting our work seen.

Website: https://3-jean-clarke.aristwebsites.com

Instagram: abstract.art.originals (or Jean Clarke)

Other: Associations/art exhibits:

CCA@californiacreativearts.org
LELA International
California Art League