JRenee is a coveted artist whose personal triumphs blossom like her art.
By Adoria Doucette
With reverse glass paintings, all details are applied first, and the artist applies each layer in reverse. The image portrayed on the opposite side of the glass is the final result of this challenging art form. Copyright JRenee Art
Visual art is a special interpretation of human vision combined with the infinite powers of the mind. There are not more than five primary colors, yet artists unlock an infinite amount of possibilities. Great art invokes every thought and feeling associated with exploring all that is wonderful about human consciousness.
While personalities are different, great artists are at the core, masters of technique. For the last 500 years, reverse glass painting has been cherished as a masterful technique, most notably utilized in opulent churches in the 16th century.
One of Americas few masters of reverse glass is Jennifer Johnson, “JRenee“. Her work is highly prized amongst private collectors such as Quincy Jones and Wynton Marsalis. JRenee’s pieces have been acquired by collections at Southern University, WEB Dubois Museum, The McKenna Museum, and the United Nations. Popular magazines, films, and television programs have been filled with cameos and praise for J’Renee’s work.
The past 20 years her murals have been commissioned throughout Washington DC. She cherishes her experience here, especially as a temporary haven for her and her family after the devastating effects of losing her New Orleans home during hurricane Katrina. JRenee experienced an epic tale of rising water in her home, a dramatic rescue, fleeing the city, and the horrific aftermath of life being turned upside down. She moved to a temporary home here in Washington on H street after Hurricane Katrina, she began a personal and professional rebirth – and now although her pieces are now on display at Tru Orleans, the jewel in the bustling H Street neighborhood in North East Washington. Her mural on U Street in the 1990s was a part of the cultural renaissance in that area of the city, as JRenee and her presense on H Street represents the triumph of her spirit and perseverance.
Since the storm J’Renee has opened a new studio in North Carolina, and recently she was chosen to design the coveted poster for the Zulu Parade which takes place on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans.
She is the first woman selected in the 20 year history of the commissioned poster. Power Source applauds this artist’s mastery and personal fortitude. JRenee’s connection to Washington DC is a cherished one and I recommend that Power Source readers travel to New Orleans for Mardi Gras this year to experience the environment that shaped the artistic brilliance of JRenee. The experience is one of America’s cultural treasures. www.mardigrasneworleans.com. To learn more about JRenee, visit www.jreneeart.com.
Zulu 2012. Copyright JRenee Art
Copyright JRenee Art
Copyright JRenee Art
Copyright JRenee Art
