JO PETERSEN
Abstract Expressionist
An active, abstract expressionist artist, Jo Petersen has pursued her love of art for five decades. While working toward an art major in the mid 1960’s, she became fascinated with the spontaneity and freedom of the art works of Pablo Picasso. His fearless creativity encouraged her to explore the unfiltered imagination.
Jo’s painting process was strongly influenced by the creativity classes she taught to over three hundred students at a women’s drug rehabilitation center from 1997 through 2001. Her goal was to facilitate creativity and enable an atmosphere of fun and excitement with a weekly assignment that was enjoyable and thought provoking. She observed from the students that each of us bring to the easel a personal, symbolic, visual language from our present thoughts, and future desires, as well as from past experiences, that can be turned into spontaneous, creative art. The memory of these meaningful classes continues to confirm her faith that an idea can be visually conveyed through the spontaneous, creative process using the unbridled imagination.
Jo works in her studio in the Texas Hill Country and is associated with the prolific Bunkhouse Gang art group located in Cypress Mill. She has studied with exceptional art instructors at The Bunkhouse at Wenmohs Ranch, an artist retreat and school.
Each painting takes this artist on a spontaneous adventure conveying her ideas, concepts, emotions, or just frozen moments in time. Jo Petersen has a flair for abstraction and the drama of stark design
The urge to create the unpredictable through experimentation is irresistible. My paintings automatically flow into pure abstract design, with each piece beginning with an idea, a concept, or a feeling, and I run with whatever pops into my head. Working at a fast pace keeps me from editing what I paint. Unfiltered expression of imagination allows me intuitive freedom, rapidly transports me into the creative, nonverbal zone, and keeps me there longer. I work in quick drying acrylics to help this spontaneous process. Right before I’m finished, I analyze the painting repeatedly for good design, and adjust for balance without disturbing the fluidity of the subconscious choices.I paint for the sheer excitement of the process. My artwork is recognizable with each piece flowing into bold, abstract design.
Jo Petersen
