Jamie Derr - March 2024

After performing as a vocalist/songwriter for over 20 years, I shifted to the visual arts as an additional outlet to express myself. My fascination with the human psyche and awareness of the uniqueness of each individual prompted me to obtain a BA in psychology from Wellesley College, where I helped to develop psychological scales in the personality psychology field. Past interactions with audiences while performing music and free-lance make-up gigs paired with my education have influenced my ability to capture the essence of a person on canvas. Besides attempting to understand others through paint, I also like to express my inner world. Water features, nocturnes, and portraits are some of my favorite subjects.

Since a young age, I have been fascinated by city lights in the evening. Some of my earliest memories include peering out of the car window at the lights in downtown Providence. I developed a fondness for the water while walking along the harbor in Bristol, RI, where my parents owned a bakery.

I continuously seek to help the viewer understand my journey as much as I share my journey to understand others. With intention, passion, and creativity I aim to create pieces now and in the future that have depth and meaning. I continue to exhibit at galleries and work on commissions. Currently, I am creating an ekphrastic project, combining poems with art pieces.