Artwork by Elizabeth Jacobs

By Sean Paul Cormier

Photos by John Carafo

“My drawings are manifestations of an urgent state of mind which compels me to understand what I am thinking and feeling in the moment”

Elizabeth Jacobs of Bedford Massachusetts had a hope of one day attending Mass College of Art in Boston.

She achieved that goal in 2005 with a BFA and is now navigating her way through Boston as an accomplished artist in her field. As a young child, Jacobs was always skeptical of imagery and always trying to redefine objects or pictures.  Early in her professional career, she has managed to be a part of some diverse shows that have placed her in some of Boston's notable hot spots. It was not easy early on for Jacobs, who had bouts with nightmares and depression, which became a greater opportunity to explore her passion for art and transform these feelings into something positive. "I didn't want to keep these things, these monsters hidden; I wanted to see what made them tick; what made them stronger, what made them weaker" she explained.

Jacobs 'paintings and drawings are consistent in many ways. They are not only unique pieces all within a group but they have an identity. She explains, "My drawings are manifestations of an urgent state of mind which compels me to understand what I am thinking and feeling in the moment."  Her drawings play a support role to her paintings because it allows her to build her thoughts and transform them into a final painted creation she says. Jacobs continues to explain that, "Drawings are akin to an early stage in evolution, while my paintings are developed and matured, providing more clues through detailed form, color and elements of a (mostly) planned composition."

That would explain why some of her artistic combinations of painting and drawing play an essential role when combined.  "Sometimes my paintings follow the intuitive process that I experience mostly through drawing". She went on to say "at times

my drawings may end up collaged in my paintings, forming an interesting marriage of both approaches". In her gallery of many depictions she claims that she has a special affinity for "The Ice Jacobs creative process does not stop at the stroke of a paint brush or graphite pencil. She has more stories to tell through writing poetry which was another art form that may have developed at a young age. "The world and nature was material for me to work with that I could form my own fantasies and stories around it" she said.

Jacobs has many personal influences as an artist, she cites Heironymus Bosch, Henry Fuseli, Andrew Wyeth and Julie Heffernan. She says "any artist that has successfully delved into such mysterious, taboo, or vague subject matter is also inspiring.  Though I have great admiration for specific artists, visually and musically, it is primarily the subject matter behind their work that Elizabeth also has an independent music project Sophia Perennis."

Elizabeth Jacobs work can be seen at http://www.makeshifteyes.com