One of her favourite abstract techniques for revealing the self and finding a subject is the mandala - from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘magic circle.’
For Hindus and Buddhists the
circular image signifies the universe, and psychologist and philosopher Carl Jung believed it held healing powers. Jeanne uses it as one technique to identify a subject.
“In the creative realm, mandalas present images of our wholeness. There is a tremendous power in the mandala drawn from the great body of visual imagery that is our collective heritage.
“For example, the sun is a universal symbol of light, day, activity and is associated most often with something good.”
Hinduism and Buddhism are especially close to her heart: “I feel they really encompass the message that all paths lead to the one. They accept many different paths.
“But if someone asked me my religion now I would have to say all of them. There is one story behind all of them and that’s one of the reasons why I love art so much, the one story that the human species has.”
Jeanne also meditates regularly and finds her painting a form of meditation. She studies Tai Chi,
different forms of Yoga and martial arts - all various artforms.
But perhaps more central to Jeanne’s life are Taoism and Zen, the Chinese and Japanese mantras which jump out of the title from the front of two of her books. Central to them and much of Jeanne’s art is the unification of body and spirit, heaven and earth.
And channelling into the creative process is something Jeanne feels is essential for all of us. The prospect fills her with optimism.
“Providing we
don’t blow ourselves up I think we could be on the threshold of a new dawn. There is an expectancy now, much as there was in Greece in the fifth century B.C.
“I believe it’s vitally important for more people to make more art - not just fine artists making their living at it, but everyone, in whatever way they can.
“By clarifying what you know, what you love and what you want, you will be free to create. To live this process consciously is to watch a miracle unfold... When we
create from unity we are always original, always powerful.
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