Hi Neighbor!

“There is a space between—between when we feel something and when we decide to share it.” JP Weber has been exploring this space through painting, and he is ready to share.

JP makes it clear that art has grounded and saved him.  Several years ago, he reached a breaking point; he was trapped. He has since discovered art as a way to work through his experiences with mental health: “I feel like I need to paint.” Through painting, JP wants to shine a light on the importance of self-expression, on art as validation.  One of his pieces was recently chosen to exhibit in the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital ArtAbility Show, which opens in November.

I had seen his Instagram posts (@johnhamster), but I was struck by how different an experience it was, wandering his home studio, seeing his projects in person: the textures, the shadings, the patterns, the themes, and the accumulation of canvases, stacked and leaning.

He works in acrylics, which he applies with whatever he can find— brushes, rulers, kids’ toys (his three daughters don’t seem to mind!), craft items, and tools.  He says he lets the “colors lead the way.” Around me I saw vibrancy and joy, colors unleashed and interacting, glad to be out in the world.

JP’s art is now available to the public.  With the help of his wife and daughters, he has created patterns from his art for textiles and products like pouches and table linens, and plans are in the works for even more.  Please visit StudioFlora where his work is showing now until the end of September.

ENJOY!
Katie L.