Presenting Artist Jennifer Bec Hirshfield

Jennifer Bec Hirshfield grew up in Cupertino, California. She attended U.C. Davis between 1983-1987, where she studied art studio under Squeak Carnwath, Manuel Neri and Roland Peterson. After Davis, she continued with post-graduate work at San Francisco State. In San Francisco, she became further exposed and influenced by the Bay Area Figurative Movement.

Hirshfield's narrative environmental paintings are rich in color and movement. Her ability to catch the "present moment" is apparent by the use of brushstroke, as opposed to a palate knife - typically used in thick application of paint. Critics have commented, "the whole painting is full of movement." The paint appears mixed right on the canvas. Her innate sense of color evokes a strong sense of time and place.

Jennifer's subject matters derive from her desire to capture humanity's need to connect with nature. Being in the moment, an active "mindfulness," allows the past and future to slip away. Nature's ability to facilitate this meditation is what draws Hirshfield to these wild places. And these places, where one’s ability to immerse thenselves entirely while looking at a rock, a tide pool, the ocean, functions as the fulcrum of her body of work.

Hirsfield's paintings are autobiographical in nature, yet have abstracted qualities much like Elmer Bischoff's work. Her application of paint with a heavy hand speaks of a long history, tied to her studies in Davis and her love of Bay Area Figurative painting. It has been made quite clear over the last 20 years that she has a great understanding of color. Her work possesses a real, positive, glowing feel to it that one senses is real.

Not only does she have a vibrant palette; her joi de vivre is obvious in the work. She loves her subject matter. Although her roles as a mother and a wife have been dominate part of her life, her love of painting has brought her to a special understanding those around her and of the environment in which she lives. She uses this knowledge everyday in her life and art and paintings.

John Natsoulas
September, 2013
John Natsoulas Gallery