Although painter Jamie Cain has been pursuing art for most of her life, it wasn't until the last five years that she decided to become a full-time artist. Her beautiful landscapes certainly make an impression and she's also into plein air (a new hobby of mine!) so I welcomed the opportunity to visit at both her home and Roswell studios (more on that in a minute.) Jamie made us a Grapefruit Basil Spritzer, mixing together a little Tito's, club soda, fresh-squeezed grapefruit, bitters and fresh sprigs of basil that she grew herself. She called it a "salad in a glass" and it was quite aromatic. It's easier to justify drinking a cocktail when it's a salad.
As we began to chat, Jamie shared her unique philosophy of "Art as Lifestyle." It's the idea of being present in the moment and taking notice of the nuances in our surroundings. From the shapes of clouds to the way light shines on someone's face, there's beauty all around us that we easily miss when we're distracted. She explained, "Every moment matters because you don't want to miss anything. It's a beautiful way to go through this world." Whether you happen to be an artist or not, she's an advocate of incorporating some form of art in your life at least once a day and she shares a few ways to go about it.
Jamie is lucky to have two studio spaces to work in. She gave me a brief look at her home studio in her basement, however, we spent the majority of our time at the Atlanta Street Art Collective. She, along with seven other artists, share this public studio space in downtown Roswell. I got a look around her sunny, corner spot where she showed me the new Highway series which was an idea that sprang from her observation of the lonely roads during the pandemic. And you don't want to miss the time-lapse of her painting demo. Who doesn't love a good painting time-lapse, am I right?
Since I paint out of my home studio I was definitely curious about the "ins and outs" of having a rented space. I asked Jamie to share her experience:
"The creative energy is everywhere in this space, the lighting is perfect and the people who paint with inspire me to come in and paint more! Being an artist can be a very solitary existence. For that reason, it is vital that I paint with others in the building. Although we have our own space, there is a lot of mutual critiques and even sometimes sharing supplies if short on something. I highly recommend considering a studio space if you want to improve your art skills or productivity."
You don't want to miss this informative chat with Jamie that will encourage you to seek out the artistry in your everyday life. Watch our full conversation here. If you want to learn more about Jamie and her work, visit her website or give her a follow on Facebook or Instagram.
