Jamie Thomson
Ferndale, MI
I am a retired psychologist turned brand designer who solves mental puzzles by painting abstract pictures.
Message
Jamie (Jay) Thomson is a metro Detroit based painter, brand designer, and retired psychologist. She grew up in rural Ohio and has lived in Virginia, Missouri, Florida, and Australia. The exposure to different places and different art communities has influenced the art she creates today.
Jamie minored in art at Ohio Northern University where she received a BA in 1997, spending as much time in the art building and in the college radio station as she did anywhere else on campus. She went on to get her doctorate in psychology immediately after graduation – and practiced for about 8 years before retiring from psychology in 2011. At that time she embraced a career change and got an AA in digital design. She has worked as a web and graphic designer since.
Several years ago she discovered that embracing her roots in studio art allowed her to meditate on creative problems in her “day job” - and her art practice has flourished ever since. She is an active member of the collaborative art gallery Lawrence Street Gallery.
Statement
I paint abstract acrylic paintings varying between fluid and heavy body acrylics. Acrylic offers immediate visual feedback while also offering the grace of course correction, all with vibrant color and depth.
Discovering abstract painting was nothing short of an “aha” moment for me. Having dabbled in nearly every artistic expression possible before trying anything abstract, I found it offered precisely the release and freedom I was seeking while also allowing for an examination of balance and structure that was centering and welcoming. The sweeping shapes and blended colors tap into something primal while also using the design skills I use in my daily work.
While there are no recognizable subjects, my work reflects a personal exploration of the role structure and freedom play in my life and the world around me. My hope is to use that exploration to create something beautiful and meaningful to connect and share with others.