About The Artist
"Art is life, everything else is just a side quest."
Artist Statement
My artistic focus predominantly revolves the eclecticism of obsessively layered mixed media elements, employing a fusion of materials to craft compositions. In my paintings, I invite you to discover fragments of your own narrative reflected through the experimental interplay of colors and forms. These pieces serve as poignant snapshot of our intricate lives, often teeming with an assortment of heirlooms and diverse experiences. In my work of both figurative representations and abstracted concepts, it is my hope that a closer look will connect you with your own most intimate memories.
Our possessions and experiences become vessels of memory, encapsulating the essence of our journey. Whether we embrace the nostalgic charm of our grandmother's antique trinkets or delve into the living archeology found within the forgotten boxes of jumbled papers, my work seeks to illuminate the beauty in the hindsight of lived experience, encouraging viewers to explore the profound stories embedded within the seemingly mundane aspects of our existence.
The heart of my art lies in fostering a connection between the observer and dormant memories encapsulated within objects, textures, and patterns. Each stroke on the canvas acts as a conduit to the fleeting moments tied to the eras in which we have encountered these images. I delve into the concept that clutter, in all its manifestations, serves as tangible evidence of a life thoroughly lived, with its share of both triumphs and challenges. Often, this evidence is enough to foster feelings of nostalgia within viewers who have not lived the experience firsthand.
Artist Bio
Based in Sacramento, California, Jamie "J" Snyder is an experimental visual artist who has passionately pursued her love for the arts as her life's work. To Jamie, being an artist is synonymous with embracing the chaotic beauty of creativity, fostering prolific output and maintaining an unwavering commitment to her craft.
In 2021, Jamie found herself at a crossroads, presented with the chance to step away from a draining corporate career and wholeheartedly dive into making art. Seizing this opportunity, she embarked on the transformative journey as a dedicated student of the arts, culminating in the attainment of her associates degree in both art and art history from American River College in December 2022.
Beginning her exploration of studio art at Sacramento State University in January 2023, Jamie is developed her unique artistic voice, characterized by an exuberance of vibrant colors juxtaposed with the ruddiness of passing time, paired with a quick-witted sense of humor. She happily crossed the stage to receive her BFA in December of 2024.
Jamie's artistic pursuits encompass a multidisciplinary approach. While her primary focus lies in the realm of painting, she also ventures into the realms of photography, illustration, and graphic design. Her creations often spotlight the ordinary items and textures that weave through our daily lives, portraying what she fondly terms as "friendly clutter"—a poignant reflection of our individual stories.
When not creating, Jamie finds solace in the rhythms of music, immerses herself in the vibrant atmosphere of festivals, or indulges in moments of reflection with a well-deserved glass of wine. As her journey unfolds, Jamie continues to infuse her art with a distinctive blend of life in color.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Studio
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, CA | December 2024
Associate of Arts in Art Studio
American River College
Sacramento, CA | December 2022
Associate of Arts in Art History
American River College
Sacramento, CA | December 2022
Milan Art Institute
Athens, GA | November 2022
Certificate of Completion, Mastery Program
Art Instruction Schools
MInneapolis, MN | December 2016
Certificate of Completion, Fundamentals of Art
Exhibition Record
Group Exhibition, International Women's Day Art Hop, Unbound Woman (#1-4), Stockton, CA, March 2025
Group Exhibition, Out of Darkness Senior Show, various works, December 2024
Group Exhibition, Freethought Gallery, various works, October 2024
Sponsored Artist, Chalk it Up Sacramento, Planetary Vastness, September 2024
Group Exhibition, Sacramento State Art Ball, 11,238 Metallic Dots, California State University, Sacramento, May 2024
Solo Exhibition, Junior BFA Show, Complicated Warmth, paintings, photography and textile work, California State University, Sacramento, May 2024
Student Awards Show, Experiment A and Experiment B, Else Gallery, California State University, Sacramento, March 2024,
Featured Artist for the month of October, display of various watercolor pieces. Fine Arts Department, American River College, October 2023.
Featured Artist for the month of December, creation of display of various collage pieces. Fine Arts Department, American River College, December 2022.
PUBLICATIONS
JSnyderArt, a weekly publication of opinion, historical and autobiographical columns
AWARDS
Recipient of the 2024 River City Quilters Guild annual scholarship for Complicated Warmth
Recipient of the October 2022 Awesome Project grant for the creation of a master study of Wassily Kandinsky’s Improvisation 28 (second version), American River College.
Recipient of the Art Instruction Schools 2016 Honors Scholarship for Self Portrait in Blue
CURATOR CREDITS
Arts and Letters Dean's Show, Curator, Mariposa, California State University. Sacramento. December 2023
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
Photographer, California Freethought Day, October 3rd, 2024. Sacramento, CA.
Photographer, California Freethought Day, October 8th, 2023. Sacramento, CA.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Arts Committee, California Freethought Day
National Art Education Association, Member