There is too much distress in this world, and I want my art to be the opposite; to remind people of the good things in life.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, B.S., Interior Design, 2001
Growing up as the daughter of an accomplished painter, Jonelle Summerfield has been involved with art her entire life. She attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, receiving a degree in Interior Design and with her mother's encouragement, Jonelle continued her art studies. Under the tutelage of her mother, as well as through various workshops, Jonelle has honed her unique style of realistic oil painting.
Much of Jonelle's subject matter is influenced by her travels to England, France, Italy and various places in the northeastern United States. She paints architecture and interiors, taking inspiration from the somber colors and realistic technique used by the Dutch painters of the 17th century. Jonelle seeks to produce uplifting, technically appealing paintings of beautiful things and places, wishing to interject scenes of serenity and elegance in a world that can sometimes be harsh.
Jonelle Summerfield's paintings deftly capture the elusive essence of her subjects, the inviting warmth of a beautifully furnished room or moody, almost haunting, architecture on an overcast day. While her masterful use of light, as well as her skilled color choices, are essential in the realistic representation of her subjects, it is her ability to subtly add the element of emotion that make these graceful paintings so remarkable.
