My Art Story
Hello! thanks for taking an interest in my work. I’m Jennifer Jokhoo a Kiwi Artist | printmaker | teacher.
Art and creativity have been part of my life since I was a little girl. I spent nearly all my waking hours drawing and painting and was encouraged by two Aunties who taught Art. In 1994 I discovered a passion for Printmaking at Canterbury University School of Fine Arts in Christchurch, New Zealand. I loved the process orientated nature of the subject, primarily zinc plate etching and relief printing. I completed a 4 year Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Printmaking/Painting and studied History of Art as a minor subject. Teachers college seemed like a natural progression. In 1998 I completed a Post-graduate Teaching diploma at Christchurch college of Education.
In 2001 I came to the UK for what was only supposed to be 6 weeks! With the UK as my base I taught Art in Cambridge, London & Spain.
I have always loved Japanese woodblock prints and early Railway poster art. Living in London, like most artists I was heavily influenced by my local environment. East Dulwich, London Bridge and the magnificent river Thames inspired my work. I drew and cut lino at the kitchen table in our small flat and then used London Print Studio to print small editions of the Architectural prints. I began I exhibiting in London and was elected a member of the Greenwich Printmakers association in 2012. A small architectural print ‘Borough Nightfall’ was selected for the 2013 RA Summer exhibition. By 2014 I had decided to take the plunge and work full time as freelance Artist .
Around this time my work shifted towards the depiction of more rural landscape - following our move to the Surrey Hills!
2020 is the year of awakening across the world. Art and the creative parts of our lives are so important. I hope you enjoy the work.
Urban Landscapes
2011 - 2013 my interest lay in Documenting the construction of the Shard before it became the iconic landmark it is now. London’s growth through the 2010s, building site cranes, nighttime vistas of the river and the ever evolving skyline were elements that I explored.
Natural Landscape
Elected to the Society of Graphic and Fine Arts and winner of the Associate’s award for ‘Summer Harvest’ at the Draw 2017 exhibition & ‘Beneath the woods’ Best in Print 2019. The last seven years have marked a shift from architectural imagery to scenes of hillside views, fields, wide skies and horizontal bands. The Surrey Hills an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and stunning imagery along our amazing coastlines are areas visited regularly with Alfred the whippet and family.
Colourful layers, the effects of light, shadow and pattern create original, unique pieces.
My work is exhibited widely across the South East in many galleries and is held in private collections in the UK, New Zealand, Mauritius, Australia, USA and Canada.
In progress ...Method
The creative process requires intricate cutting and layering of colour which takes place over many weeks! Each reduction linocut is produced by hand; from the initial drawings, to the intricate cutting, inking and printing of editions. I work in relief and intaglio methods, however my preferred printmaking technique is ‘Reduction linoprinting’ otherwise known as the suicide method! In this method, a multi coloured print is pulled from a single block. The lino is inked with the lightest colour and the first printing is made. The areas to remain that colour are then cut away. This is the process for each layer, therefore it cannot be rewound or repeated. As a result my editions are kept very small. I enjoy the challenges of this method which requires thoughtful planning and execution. At the same time, it enables a certain degree of flexibility as the concept I begin with is never set in stone. The print evolves and changes shape during the process allowing me to constantly respond to what the work needs rather than being restricted by preconceived ideas.