2024, MARCH – JJ PRIOUR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What material(s) do you use in your sculptures?
“Central Texas Fossiliferous Limestone and industrial plate glass.“

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is your primary forming method?
“I use no forming or casting methods to begin with.  I start with blocks or slabs of raw limestone and gradually work my way down from power tools to fine sandpaper.  It is a similar process with the glass in that I start with the full sheets and work my way down from a glass saw to a finer, more precise approach of chipping away at the glass to reach the desired shape and texture to accompany the stone.  It is a marriage of the two materials, both with contrasting properties and characteristics yet complementing each other so well, and formed to create the perfect balance.”

What is your favorite surface treatment?
“Generally there is no surface treatment.  The natural texture and surface of the stone is desirable.  Nature provides its own surface treatments with age.  Any undesirable aging can be removed and returned to a clean white natural limestone look.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are your favorite Tools?
“Tools can be your best friend and/or your worst enemy.  Many of the tools I use were not necessarily designed for stone or glass work, but create great results in interesting ways.  Being creative with the tools you use is just as important as being creative with the materials you use to create a unique piece of artwork.”

Describe your studio environment.
“Dusty chaos, but perfectly nestled in the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, a strong source of my inspiration.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How/Where do you market and sell your artwork?
“As an aspiring and developing sculptor inspired by water and the native Texas Hill Country, I often look for places that appreciate and take part in accenting our surrounding natural beauty with sculpture.  At this early stage in my career much of the marketing and sales are by word-of-mouth.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What sparks your creativity? What drives you to create?
“Water and our natural environment are key sources of inspiration and are represented by the native fossiliferous limestone and glass as a metaphor for water.

My father was a well-known successful sculptor and much of my driving force comes from having observed him throughout his career and seeing how happy he made so many people through his sculpture, his journey, and his unconditional support for the arts.”

Did you come to sculpture from a different career? Tell us about your journey to becoming a sculptor.
“I never really had a chance to develop a career before moving into sculpture.  I went to Seattle University for international business.  However, once I moved back to Austin I realized that the corporate world was not for me and that sculpture was my true calling.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How have you have taken your experience as a well-established maker in the field and passed that knowledge along to other artists?
“At this stage in my career I have not had the honor to work with students or up-and-coming artists in a formal setting.  I try to support and inspire all artists to have a little faith in their creativity and never give up.”

What’s the best advice you’ve been given by a fellow maker, mentor, or teacher?
“Have confidence in yourself and in your own creativity.

Don’t be turned away by disappointing yourself sometimes.  Don’t label imperfections as ‘mistakes’ or ‘failures’, you will always learn something from them.

There are no problems, only solutions.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TSOS Member Profile:  JJ Priour

Website URL:  www.priourstudio.com

Instagram:  jjpriour

Bio:

Our draw to beauty is intrinsic and begins at birth.  As our mind and body develop we are naturally attracted to, and yearn for things that evoke positive emotions.  As we grow we are exposed to different things that we are inherently attracted to for different reasons.  We eventually develop our own unique understanding of where we find beauty and why.   Which leaves us with the opportunity to follow our own creativity and express ourselves in beautiful ways.

Abstract designs aim to inspire individual interpretations.  The fossiliferous Central Texas limestone is representative of the historical strength of life in this area.  The glass is incorporated as metaphor for water and the importance it holds.  The incredible roles that water plays in life range from providing necessary nourishment for life, the comfort and beauty that it creates, to the potential hazards presented by too much or too little.  The delicate balance of water in our environment provides life with the strength and beauty we need to grow and enjoy. Living in the spectacular central Texas hill country has embedded in me the motivation to preserve our habitats and beautify our public spaces.  I aim to aesthetically enhance life and the surrounding environment with sculpture that signifies the beauty of our natural environment, and that produces a unique relationship and connection.  I strive to creatively expand and contribute to our beautiful world with my artwork.  Our own creativity is our only true freedom.