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Jerome
Inspires Creativity
A Jerome artist at
work
Picture showing artist Robin Anderson
(image by Donna Chesler)
Jerome is a city that inspires
creativity. It is a
muse for painters, photographers and other artists who come to
live and visit. The appeal of this historic mountain town comes
from its spell-binding panoramic vistas, its dazzling light and
its community of engaged, working artists.
“This place feeds me. There is so much
creativity here,” says Jerome photographer Ron Chilston.
Then pointing to a 230-degree view of the Mogollan Rim,
he adds: “Oh, my
God, look. This is
where I go to sleep every night, and this is where I wake up
every morning. How can you not come up with images!”
Photo by Ron
Chilston showing a full moon over the Red Rocks Panorama
Chilston sees his adopted city through
his camera’s lens--whether it is a glowing night shot of the
Jerome Grand Hotel or the colorful first flowers of spring. He
also likes to take his camera and explore the dirt roads that
are only minutes away; there are always unexpected visual
discoveries. “I love it when people ask me, “Where were
you?’” he says.
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Jerome's
Cleopatra Hill during "Magic Hour"
(image by Ron Chilston)
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Thunderstorm
Clouds over the Verde Valley
(image by Ron Chilston)
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| Photographs are the starting point for
Jerome digital artist and poet Patrick Lincoln, who paints with
his camera and computer. “I take a photo. Then I sit down at
the computer and I try to dig out the painting,” he says.
In
his poetic, supersaturated images Lincoln captures the softness
of the landscape, such as reed-like shacks peaking out of a
gulch or old Jerome High School looking like a fairytale village
in a dream.
“Jerome is ringed in by beauty and
awesome views,” says Lincoln.
“Open spaces, vast distances and amazing vistas are all
there and smack you in the face.” |
A Patrick
Lincoln photograph
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Mark Hemleben has been studying and
painting Jerome for a dozen years.
He captures the essence of his beloved city from many
different angles in a way that allows a viewer to respond and
interact with his work.
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A Mark
Hemleben painting
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“Jerome is like my haystacks,” he
says (referring to Claude Monet’s impressive body of work.)
Hemleben’s city snowscapes can make
you feel cold; his sun-kissed buildings, dreamy; his panoramic
overviews, dizzy, as you follow the cascading streets. Often
called the plein air painter of Jerome, Hemleben doesn’t let a
day go by without painting outside. Jerome is always a favorite
subject. “I live in a miniature version of heaven,” he says.
“The beauty here is so overwhelming and comes through in the
work.” |
--Sylvia Somerville
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