The Artist Next Door
One step into Jennifer Bechem's New Jersey apartment, and you'll immediately know you've entered the home of an artist. And I'm not just saying that because she had her work on display for the ________ exhibit, but because nothing in her entire domicile is exempt from becoming a potential canvas. Bold splashes of paint on the walls depict Bechem's emotions at different points in her life, from the warm nostalgia of a childhood doll to the thrill of a stimulating conversation with someone new, after a breakup.
Bechem doesn't stop at the walls, either. Pieces of furniture and articles of clothing also bear her creative stamp. One bookshelf features a timeline of her life, with different colors representing experiences and emotions of each period. She considers most of her work to be abstract expressionism, and draws her inspiration from artists like Kandinsky and Sonia Delaunay. Color appears to be Bechem's main conduit to self-expression, with celebratory pieces like Sunday Funday and Before Vacation, which depict bright, festive hues, and more emotional pieces like Motherly love, which features bold colors and soft strokes. Each painting has a story behind it, and many of her pieces are accompanied by that story in written form, a key attribute that sets her apart from the rest. "I know there's a large segment of the population that has trouble embracing abstract expressionism, so the writings are there to serve as an accompanying piece."
You won't get Bechem to reveal too much about the specifics of her each painting. She wants for the everyone to bring their own life experiences and interpretations to each piece. In fact, in some cases, the images aren't even clear to Jenny until long after the painting is finished. For example, she initially thought "Getting a New Roommate" expressed her excitement for a new beginning and a transition, following a divorce, a move, and a career change. However, upon closer examination, she realized the painting also exposes her anxiety with what appears to be hands crawling out of flames. Similarly, it took her months of exploration to realize that "Queen of Hearts" wasn't a self-portrait, but a depiction of "the most vile person I've ever met."
One of my favorite pieces was "Where the Past Should Be," which looked to me like a lot of long flowing hair, representing the backs of several women's heads as they walk away from the past. Naturally, Bechem wouldn't tell me if that interpretation is accurate, but she did state that in this painting, the past is exactly where it should be: behind you.
While Bechem has been painting since she was a child, it took some recent life transitions to reawaken her passion. "I just always loved the fact that I didn't need anyone's permission to create art," she said as she showed me her work at the ____ Exhibit. "As an actress you need to be cast, as a writer, you need to be published. Painting is something I can do without anyone telling me if I'm good enough. I just need a few supplies and my own approval." It's clear from her free-spirited approach to her artwork, that Bechem is doing just that.
You can find more examples of Bechem's work at jujubeegees.com.
Bechem doesn't stop at the walls, either. Pieces of furniture and articles of clothing also bear her creative stamp. One bookshelf features a timeline of her life, with different colors representing experiences and emotions of each period. She considers most of her work to be abstract expressionism, and draws her inspiration from artists like Kandinsky and Sonia Delaunay. Color appears to be Bechem's main conduit to self-expression, with celebratory pieces like Sunday Funday and Before Vacation, which depict bright, festive hues, and more emotional pieces like Motherly love, which features bold colors and soft strokes. Each painting has a story behind it, and many of her pieces are accompanied by that story in written form, a key attribute that sets her apart from the rest. "I know there's a large segment of the population that has trouble embracing abstract expressionism, so the writings are there to serve as an accompanying piece."
You won't get Bechem to reveal too much about the specifics of her each painting. She wants for the everyone to bring their own life experiences and interpretations to each piece. In fact, in some cases, the images aren't even clear to Jenny until long after the painting is finished. For example, she initially thought "Getting a New Roommate" expressed her excitement for a new beginning and a transition, following a divorce, a move, and a career change. However, upon closer examination, she realized the painting also exposes her anxiety with what appears to be hands crawling out of flames. Similarly, it took her months of exploration to realize that "Queen of Hearts" wasn't a self-portrait, but a depiction of "the most vile person I've ever met."
One of my favorite pieces was "Where the Past Should Be," which looked to me like a lot of long flowing hair, representing the backs of several women's heads as they walk away from the past. Naturally, Bechem wouldn't tell me if that interpretation is accurate, but she did state that in this painting, the past is exactly where it should be: behind you.
While Bechem has been painting since she was a child, it took some recent life transitions to reawaken her passion. "I just always loved the fact that I didn't need anyone's permission to create art," she said as she showed me her work at the ____ Exhibit. "As an actress you need to be cast, as a writer, you need to be published. Painting is something I can do without anyone telling me if I'm good enough. I just need a few supplies and my own approval." It's clear from her free-spirited approach to her artwork, that Bechem is doing just that.
You can find more examples of Bechem's work at jujubeegees.com.