Memories Are Illusive

There are many stories told in the landscape of the human face.

Painting people allows me to express what it is like to be human. What we reveal, and what we hide from each other.

We often hide our true selves for fear of being "found out" as perfectly flawed.  

We are a paradox:  compassionate and cruel, brave and fearful, loving and hateful, joyful and sad.

My current work emerged from a deep sadness and the awareness that memories are illusive, love is conditional

and lies will break your heart.

Psychological Portraits

About fifteen years ago, I started painting my children and other people’s children. I wanted to capture the memories of their childhood, to show them “as they are for now.” This made me happy and grounded in my “stay-at-home” life. The paintings were like giant snapshots from the family photo album and like a snapshot, they captured a moment in time, but time cannot remain static. Children grow older and lives change. 

Now I am fortunate to have moved into a larger studio to paint “larger”, both literally and figuratively. In this space I can paint several works simultaneously and work in both oils and acrylic. 

Pretense • Poison • Missing • Eviscerate • Undone

These larger canvases reveal a more personal story. The 6’ x 6’ oil paintings evolved from a personal trauma and the realization that nothing in life ever remains the same. 

These paintings begin with a photographic image, but elements are altered or added to tell a more psychological and emotional story. 

I am learning to accept the groundlessness of life and to relax somewhere in the middle, because that is where love lives. Through my work I converse with my demons: anger, fear, and sadness so that I may value my goodness: compassion, bravery, and joy. 

- Jean Manning