Marlene Jorge
Austin, TX
Autodidact Artist Marlene Jorge displays through her art pieces a complex set of influences from her rich and varied life. Born in the Dominican Republic in 1974 where in her adolescence she obtained a major at Laws the artist expressed since very young, and throughout her life a deep love, sensibility and ability for the fine arts which she cultivated throughout her life.
Marlene's art reflects her Caribbean inheritance with the bold colors, stylized poses and echoes of the warm and tropical surroundings where the artist grew up. Intensely melancholic gazes and movement are essential elements to her oeuvre, as, too, is the gentle dominance of the human figure expressed in a nostalgic manner. One of the recurring features Marlene‘s artwork possess is the accentuation of the figure through blank outlines in each one of her pieces dramatizing it in a illustrative way. Figures, wrapped in a nostalgic atmosphere are usually the subject of Marlene's work signature, a subject that expresses a demanding act of support and recognition of the value of the most interesting subject, as the artist expresses, Women.
A tactile and gentle relationship pervades both her and pieces, as she explores playfully the anatomical before teasing out the dynamic linguistic relationship between faces always in an ever so subtle motion. This allows for highly evocative auratic expressiveness in her compositions at times. Marlene invites us to witness a scene full of artistic intent and personal reflective representation of her vision about the human figure, inviting us to be part of her world from a different perspective, and through the many faces observed in her artwork the artist gives a poetic meaning to that vision. Marlene Jorge vibes at the rhythm of her painting brushes, happy and free to express herself through the bright colors of her bold style. Her work is alive, warm and distinctive. The artist does not impose herself any limits and her creative energy added to the purity of her gestures, allow the magic to happen as the painting progresses and the audience enters the artist universe, her mind and appreciation of the visual subjects she recollects day by day.
How and when did you start creating art?
I remember my mom told me I started around when I was 4 years old. I used to cover the walls of the house with drawings and blame it on my little brother and this behavior continued throughout my adult life.
What media and genres do you work in?
I work with acrylics, Oil, Colored Pencil, Watercolors, resins, pastels, charcoal, sanguine, conte; etc. However my media of preference lately is oil markers. I love portraiture or all figurative art on minimalistic perspective.
Who or what are your influences?
I have many artists I admire but I love Alex Katz, Georgia O'Keeffe, Julian Opie, Tamara Åempicka, Romero Brito, Roy Fox Lichtenstein and Dali, of course.
What was your inspiration for Dreamer?
This a game changing piece and through it you can experience the transition or evolution per se of the artist and the woman. The pieces represent the allusion of my inner self in relation to all external elements. It quite minimalist which opposes the previous pieces I created when I was still very new in Austin. I love how clean and focused the result was as I love how well it represent the essence of this artist.
Describe your creative process?
My creativity process starts with a pre-recollection of images, sketches, artifacts, concepts, words, ad emotions, gathered on a daily basis in my life journey. Then I move forward to a blank canvas by tracing the eyes, since they will guide the entire process. There is nothing planned or pre sketched. I see the canvas, touch it, and let the current feeling at that precise moment guide my hands. I usually start with a pre-conceived idea and end up with a metamorphosis of my initial concept. Once the colors and lines come to play and settle on the canvas, I usually step back to feel the piece. I paint at night, with music, and most of the time I write about the paintings afterwards. I am super shy and don’t allow people watching me paint.
What are you working on currently?
I am working of several murals around town as well as induvial pieces and also I am
working on a series tittle Monochromic which is more related to a minimalistic period I
am going through on my spiritual path on earth.
What are your near/long term goals as an artist?
I am relative close to the initial goal I set up when I move from NYC to this Austin but I am not as
closer as I want to be to the big picture I have painted as an artist. I have big goals which are linked to
my desire of using the gift I was given by GOD to not only life off it but to help others. I want to show
others why Art (at least to me) is the biggest healing tool on earth. I want to work with emotionally,
physically and sexually abuse women and children either through an organization or found my own so I
can share the gift with other and give back to life what so kindly life has given me. Some much I want to
do for others and with others in that sense. I only hope life is kind and long enough to reach that goal.
Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?
Most of my pieces are in private collections in US, EU and PR/DR however the public can request any related information about commissions or info in general through my website
www.marlenejorge.org.
