JJ Burton, also known as J2ester, is a young local artist far from new to the Columbia scene and presently featured as our July Tiny Gallery artist.
A native from the Philippines, Burton has been drawing since a child—nearly as long as she can remember. Painting, however, started in 2005, strangely enough due to her love of koi. In her desire to explore through replication the living creatures she loved, she began watching painting online, particularly Bob Ross.
As she began exploring painting, she decided to experiment with acrylic, specifically. A match made in art, she has never gone back, with acrylic being the only medium she uses. She only deviates to place her creations in small pendants so that her art can become wearable.
Burton describes the style she places on canvas and pendant alike as “impressionistic,” mostly painting “animal and tree subjects.”
“[My themes] are nature, water, animal anything that captures movement or reflection. I also explore from time to time, some abstract that I tried,” Burton details, “I wanted to capture some movement of the paints. I select colors; mostly I am drawn to blues family then try to express how I feel and capture it through the movement of the paint.”
Her process typically starts with an idea and a song. She turns on her meditation music and, with an image already in her mind, approaches the canvas.
“Whenever I have an idea, I try to record those in the [sketchbook]. When I am ready to paint, I go to my book and select one to paint,” Burton shares, “It goes pretty easily if it is a smaller piece. Larger ones or commission pieces take me forever to decide if I am finished—sometimes I rest for a day or two to check it again if I needed something to add.”
For this show, Burton is showing new works, all created this year. There are a few canvases and a handful of hand-painted necklaces that feature both abstract images and figures like parrots, zebras, or her beloved koi fish.
“The necklaces are fun to make; it always starts with some abstract, then later on I somehow see a figure in it, and finish it with more details,” Burton explains, “Those are the fun ones cause you never know what will be the finished product; it is always a surprise. I hope that people see the feeling or vision I see in this world through my art.”
Self-taught, Burton now teaches her own classes in the city. Being able to teach students what she loves as well as seeing the reactions of those who interact with her art are the highlights in her career.
“[I love] to see the eyes of an individual light up seeing my art and connecting to them. With every smile and joy it brings to them looking at it is an amazing sight,” she intimates, “One lady cried looking at my horse field, and she said it related to when she was young.”
Burton’s work will be up until July 31st on our virtual gallery site. To see Burton’s work after the show, you can find her at Soda City most Saturdays, restaurants around the Columbia area, and various festivals and events. You can also follow her on Facebook @ JJ Burton, YouTube @backyardkoi&art, Instagram @_j2ester_, and her website.