The beautifully detailed drawings of Jennifer Celio will pull you in to see more and more. Her graphite drawings are precise, clear and neat. As you look at her work, you can almost follow her as she moves through and around the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area and catch a glimpse of her love of the sciences.

While art often asks us to step away and outside of ourselves, Jennifer’s drawings seem to be asking us to be present and to please take a closer look at the world where we find ourselves living. Maybe she is on the streets of LA and something catches her eye in a unique way; you can be sure she will find a way to work it into a drawing. Quite possibly she is looking at a night sky and she asks you to consider what that means for you in the here and now of your life and shares with you what it means to her, too.

As you explore these drawings, I encourage you to look very closely at the details as the drawing pulls you into the world Jennifer has created there. The graphite marks are small and the texture-filled drawings are mesmerizing. If you have ever tried this kind of drawing, you know the time and patience it takes to create something of this magnitude. This is absolutely NOT an afternoon of work. It takes a steady hand, a keen eye and complete dedication to accomplish art of this caliber. It takes love to produce these pieces, and with each drawing, the keen observer can feel the love Jennifer shares as she works.

It is our absolute pleasure to introduce to you the work of artist Jennifer Celio .

Can't see the forest

Simply simple

How long have you been an artist?

I cannot recall ever not thinking of myself as an artist. Both of my parents are Artists, so being surrounded by their creations and their influence was another factor in my path. I knew when I was a child that I wanted to become a famous artist.

The island

NIMBY (the forest)

Where do you work?  How long have you been there?

I have a studio separate from my home. I live in Long Beach, and the studio is only about 5 minutes away from home. I’ve had this space for about 9 years. It is ideal for me to work in a location apart from my home. There is no need to keep it super tidy, and when I commit to go there, I then stay for many hours. There are less distractions than at home. It’s a funky little space, actually a storage room, but it has a window for fresh air, it’s quiet and safe, and it’s just big enough to create even my largest drawings.

The long view

This other neighborhood

What materials do you prefer?

Since 2002, I have worked exclusively in graphite pencil. I used to make my drawings on gessoed wood panels, but I switched to paper in about 2010. I use Staedtler brand artist pencils, an electric pencil sharpener, erasers, a variety of rulers and basic stencils-very basic drawing materials.

The meadow

The coven

Where/How are you inspired?

I get inspiration most often while I am driving. The urban elements and settings in my pieces are usually found from the vantage point of my car. I write down snippets of ideas or single images, or I take reference photos of urban or nature environments that pique my interest. Sometimes I don’t use those reference photos or ideas until many years later. I work from photos, whether my own or found imagery.

NIMBY (national park)

 NIMBY (suburb)

Do you work on one or more pieces at a time?

I always work on one drawing at a time. And I see it through to its completion, even if I have lost motivation part way through, or I know at some point that it is not exactly “working.” I would rather finish a drawing and have it be less than stellar than to leave a piece unfinished.

Neutralized

NIMBY (wetlands)

If you were not a painter/sculptor/photographer, etc. what would you do?

I would hope that I could have become an archaeologist. I am fascinated by the hidden histories of structures and peoples. I imagine those narratives and weave them into my art, to some degree. I’m a total geek for science.

Flyby

Nebulae

How can our readers find and purchase your art?

My website (http://JenniferCelio.com) contains a gallery of photos of fairly recent drawings, many of which are available. Some work is available for purchase through me. In August 2014, I will have approximately six new, small drawings in a three person show at LAUNCH/LA Gallery in Los Angeles (http://launchla.org). This would be a great way to buy smaller, more affordable drawings.

Dodge van

Firestorm

Is your art your full-time career?

It is, but it is not technically my full time JOB. I still have a day job that provides a steady income, but I am self employed and prefer the flexibility to make my own schedule. I kind of work that job around studio time. I think of myself as a full time artist, just with two jobs! I easily work the hours every week to warrant saying that.

Ghetto bird

glow

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