Note From Editor:
J.E. presents his work under these initials rather than his name, a deliberate choice rooted in where he is right now in his life. The anonymity isn't evasion. It's protection. He comes from a world where he is known and recognized…and for the moment, his art exists in a quieter space. But, as you will see…his art speaks loud and clear as just J.E.
I never planned to become an artist.
About a year ago, during a difficult period in my life, I made my first drawing. Then came a second one, then a third. Before I realized it, there were more than twenty-five.
To be honest, I’m not entirely sure why I kept going. I tend to let things develop naturally and see where they lead. Drawing became part of my daily life and gradually turned into something much bigger than I had expected.
I don’t come from an artistic background. For most of my life, my world revolved around elite sport. Drawing arrived unexpectedly and became a different way of spending time, focusing my attention and building something positive.
I work mainly with acrylic markers on cardboard. I rarely start with a fixed plan or a sketch. Most pieces begin with a simple shape, colour or idea and evolve naturally as I work. Repetition plays an important role in many of my drawings, as do colour, structure, rhythm and intuition.
MENTAL PORTRAIT
Mental Portrait started from a couple of South African masks I have at home. They were the original inspiration, but the drawing quickly became something else and ended up where it ended up.
I still don’t analyze my work too much. I simply sit down and draw.
Mental Portrait - by J.E.
Recommended Reading: Margriet van Breevoort on Hybrid Creatures, Silicone Skin, and the Uncanny
BIO
I’m J.E., a visual artist based in Spain. I work mainly with acrylic markers on cardboard, creating intuitive drawings through repetition, colour, structure and rhythm.
Check out more from J.E. on Instagram: @j.e_art_
