Artist's Statement
My interest in Native American culture and history started as a girl, when my mother used to recant tales of the First Nations, of Scottish heroes and of Yorkshire heroines. She was a good story-teller.
Listening to her stories, I began to understand why we all need strength in our roots in order to feel that we belong somewhere in this world.
My mother was a huge influence in my life. She was an artist too. She used to tease me when I was young and tell me that I should just draw flowers because my sketches of people were so bad! She was quite the disciplinarian, which seems odd as a creative skill often seems to imply the opposite.
She taught me to be determined, not to lie and always to appreciate everything that comes along. Her artistic flair eventually ended up in her creating a theatre group for the young people in the village where she lived, which gained lottery funding and was fun for all.
My mothers paintings were all over the house. She could not afford to buy canvases, so she used hardboard. We were the only house in the village with crinoline ladies decorating the cupboards. When I was 11 years old, I took her oil paints and I painted a spitfire on my dressing table mirror. She went bananas, but not because I had painted, but that I had used her oils and she would struggle to replace them.
She taught me to draw people, and talked about art. She had three books that I absolutely adored reading, or rather looking through. They were huge navy blue books that contained full colour prints of all of the old masters works. She would sit with me and look at Rembrant, Renoir, David, Carravagio, Monet and everyone else! She loved the Titian ladies and a painting of Whistlers mother and I was inspired by everything.
I went to art college, but had to leave because my father had passed away. I worked in a supermarket after that, and then a factory, and then a pub, and the temporary jobs just went on and on. I only managed to earn money to look after my family. I went back to school to learn something that would earn more money than working as a tablehand in a local factory, and ended up in accounting, which seems a long way from being an artist, but the logic is still there. I spent years and years just working to try and survive, but was never able to give up my paint brush.
So despite being labelled self-taught with a lack of a bachelors degree attached to my name and few miles on my brushes, I was inspired to try, and keep trying and it has led me to this point in my life.
I love to paint all manner of things because I see beauty all over the place. I know that many artists specialise in one thing or another, but at the moment, if I restricted my painting to one thing or another, it would make me feel as if I could only say one sentence, and I have a huge need to feel unrestricted in my life and my choices.
Art is communication, and I am doing just that.
About the artist
Jo-Anne Clarke was born in Yorkshire in 1959 and works from her home studio in the North of England.
As an artist, she enjoys exploring her creativity using a variety of mediums, including oils, pastels, water colour, acrylics and pencils. She also enjoys wildlife and landscape photography, and travels regularly throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom exploring the artistic possibilities that nature affords us.
Her work has been described as spiritually expressive, depicting some aspects of our human nature through our intimate design and our cultural belief systems.
Customer testimonials
Thank you to all of the people who wished to share a few thoughts here about my work.... I am still working on the guest book, but am challenged with techy things. I still have not got the video recorder to work from 1983!
Jo-Anne
"... an artist who works in truth with the light, with the ability of using different mediums and techniques. Her artwork bridges the esoteric to true life forms, in an abundance of colour, shapes and and form. If you see one you like buy it, because she can't replicate it. Her work comes from the heart."
Sandra Makein, Crewkerne
"...her art projects a FEELING, a knowing and an alive feel that only true art gives to own a fab piece of Jo-Anne's work means not only the sheer pleasure of looking everyday at a unique piece - but to feel and heal within that work. I thank the world for giving us the unique talent of Jo-Anne"
Beverley Manning, Middlesex
"...your artistry goes from strength to strength - the depth of your paintings are breathtaking"
Cathy Presto, Yorkshire
"... I will treasure my little 'new home' angel."
Debs, Yorkshire
"... I have been looking at my marvellous painting and just wanted to say how absolutey wonderful I find it - always new insights and the colours completely right for me somehow , they uplift my spirit when I look at them.- another big thank you and to reaffirm to you my appreciation."
Kyrin Morton, UK
"... Your work is inspirational. I have 2 of your prints, Rainbow Bear and Buffalo. Such beauty and vibrancy"