The Paintings of

                                           

                                          Jessica Joy Jirsa   

 

"Plein Air" is a french term for painting in open air or outside.  Painting in Plein Air provides the challenge of capturing the constantly changing world around me while up against unpredictable outside environment. It can often be uncomfortable but always exciting.  Unlike most traditional Plein Air Artists, I often break free from painting the natural light and instead alter reality through color. My obsession with color is quite obvious upon meeting me or looking at my paintings.  I capture real places with the depth of the natural world  and yet use colors that jump off the canvas.  Below you'll find many of my recent works from around San Francisco and Oakland.   Prepare for the nostalgia of recognizing a neighborhood you love, and find you love it  more seeing it through my lively interpretations and wild color palette.

 

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3 Painters Witness Occupy

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I've met so many amazing and courageous artists while painting at Occupy Oakland. It's been especially exciting to meet other Plein Air Artists, such as Anthony Holdsworth and John Paul Marcelo! 

Check out this video showing  different scenes we've captured of the Occupy Movement in Plein Air!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video created by Anthony Holdsworth

                                                             

      I've been overwhelmingly drawn to capture the Occupy movement as it is happening right here in my city of Oakland. There is so much beauty to be found within the gathering of diverse people, ideals and causes. It's an ever-changing, ever-growing colorful and lively scene. There is an overall universal feeling that everyone deserves a bit of the good life (i.e. homes, food, education, job stability), and this is quite possible if the top 1% just shared some of their wealth.        

                    

 

 

             OCCUPY OAKLAND 10-13-11                                  OCCUPY OAKLAND 10-14-11        

                             12" x 12"                                                                    12" x 12"   

                

          OCCUPY OAKLAND 11-11-11                Needless to say, I was eager to get back to painting at

Frank Ogawa Park. The first day I returned was November 10. It was sunny and I picked a shady spot just outside the encampment by the Bart Station.  I spent the day painting the Interfaith Coalition's tent amongst the company of Pastor Preston Walker (figure in 11-10-11 painting).We hadn't talked much more than me asking permission to include him in my painting, but the day's events will make the connection between us far more real if not tragic. A  twenty-five  year old man was shot and died  within yards of where I had been painting.  This event still saddens me greatly, but it does not lessen my love for Oakland or the occupation.  I  believe in the power of love over the power of hate. I want Oakland to be associated with the gathering of positive people and ideas instead of needless violence. So  I returned to the Park the next couple days to contribute my part to keeping the positive                                 10" x 10"                                    outwaying the negative energies.  Since then, the park has been cleared of the tents but the voices of Oakland will continue to find ways to be heard.    

                   OCCUPY OAKLAND 11-12-11    

Please email me if you are interested in purchasing a piece of my art.  I am also avaiIable for commissioned pieces and have incredibly reasonable prices!! I will paint just about anything for you.  Things I specialize in are: Paintings of special locations in the city, small towns, parks, oceanside or about anywhere I can get to or get a photo of. Paintings of people or animals or even inanimate objects special to you or your loved ones.  Look for  Special Sale Prices marked below available paintings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

  

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