The Art Buyer Gallery interviewed talented London-based artist Jo Barrett on her connection to still-lifes, studio rituals & her personal collection of pots & vases. Jo Barrett’s collection graces the gallery walls this Spring, enticing viewers to take a moment to pause and reflect. Jo’s sophisticated still-life oil paintings feature gorgeous florals and ripe fruit compositions, capturing and elevating the essence of each still life scene.
Pictured: Still Life with Flat Peaches and Confit Pot 6 by Jo Barrett
Pictured: Still Life with Flat Peaches and Confit Pot 6 by Jo Barrett
Where did you find inspiration for your most recent collection of paintings at The Art Buyer?
I look for subject matter for my paintings everywhere I go. I’m always on the hunt for new pots and vases and have quite a collection that I use. I get inspired by beautiful flowers and fruit and then find a suitable pot or vase to compliment it from my collection.
Pictured: Progress shot and final image of ‘Still Life with Iceand Poppies and Stoneware Jar’ by Jo Barrett
We’d love to know how you were first introduced to still-lifes and what drew you to painting them yourself?
I have been painting still life since I did my A- level art! Then my style was looser and inspired by impressionism. I always wanted to be an artist and used to really enjoy doing small observational drawings.
Did the creative direction in your work take form suddenly, or was it a gradual progression throughout your career?
The creative direction in my work has definitely been gradual throughout my career. As I previously mentioned I used to paint in a looser way when I was younger but I started to work in a more realist style when I was at university although at that time I was focusing on landscape. I returned to still life a few years after university, painting very large realistic fruit and bowls. Since then the compositions have become calmer and more influenced by the Dutch still life tradition.
Pictured: Progress shot of ‘Still Life with Pink Foxgloves and Stoneware Bottle’ by Jo Barrett.
Pictured: ‘Still Life with Pink Foxgloves and Stoneware Bottle’ by Jo Barrett.
Pictured: Progress shots and final image of ‘Still Life with Pink Foxgloves and Stoneware Bottle’ by Jo Barrett
Talk us through a usual studio day set up; how do you like to start your day?
I always start my day with a swim or pilates, it helps me focus and I find it sets me up really well for the day. I work in a small studio in the back garden which I love, and my rescue greyhound Tiggy often keeps me company. She is so quiet and she loves to sleep, the perfect company when I’m working! I listen to the radio or audiobooks while I’m working and must have gone through hundreds of hours of stories, with my favourite so far ironically being ‘Still Life’ by Sarah Winman, such a brilliant book. My work process is very regimented. I always spend a couple of days drawing up the composition and mixing all the paint colours that I will need from the 3 primary colours (plus white and black). I work very long days when I’m painting, starting at 9am and often not finishing until 6 or 7 pm with a short dog walk break at lunchtime. The studio is just a hop from my kitchen so I’m regularly popping in to make tea and coffee!
Pictured: Jo Barrett’s studio set-up.
Pictured: Jo Barrett’s studio set-up
We could look at your paintings for hours; is painting, for you, a soothing process?
This is a hard one to answer as it varies but I would say on the whole that I do find it soothing. Sometimes I can feel a bit under time pressure as I paint ‘wet on wet’ so there’s no time to take breaks during the working day. If I have a couple of weeks off painting I really miss it and find i need to do something else with my hands such as knitting in the evening!
How has your career in the arts impacted the person you are today?
I’m not sure as I’ve only ever worked as an artist. I can’t imagine my life if I had taken a different path!
View the Jo Barrett Collection
‘Still Life with Japanese Anemones and Blue & White Vase’ by Jo Barrett.
Pictured: ‘Still Life with Japanese Anemones and Blue & White Vase’ by Jo Barrett
My life in Art ~ Jo Barrett
First piece of art you bought?
I bought 2 paintings by the artist Kes Richardson who was in the year above me at University. I still love them!
Favourite Artist?
This is an impossible question as my taste is very diverse! I love Vermeer, Whistler, Turner, Peter Doig, Winifred Nicholson to name a few!
Symphony in White, No. 2: The Little White Girl 1864 James Abbott McNeill Whistler 1834-1903 Bequeathed by Arthur Studd 1919 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/N03418
Pictured: Penstemens by Winifred Nicholson. Image credit: https://www.winifrednicholson.com/flowers.html
Pictured: Symphony in white, no. 2: The Little White girl (1864) by James Mcneil Whistler. Image credit: TATE
Pictured: Penstemens by Winifred Nicholson. Image credit: Winifred Nicholson
If you could own any piece of art (even if you have to rob a bank or museum!), what would it be and why?
I think I’d go for a late Turner but than I’d need a much larger house to accommodate it.
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