DirtWork by Joni

Getting my hands dirty (literally), the methodical movements of the brush when painting and most days the blast of music from my speakers help make the rest of the world go quiet and all that exists in my brain is the scene I’m creating in front me. It is my meditation, my relaxation, my calm waters that hopefully is carried with it to its new home wherever it may hang.

In my youth I had always been told there are emotional artists, accurate artists and artists who are a blend of both. Although I always strive to be a blend, I struggled with giving my art more meaning for the viewer to connect with. Then the idea of using dirt hit me. Using dirt that has more history “in” it can also help form more emotion in the splashes and drips on the paper. Now my paintings of wildlife, landscapes, portraits and the agricultural lifestyle can tell more of a story than simply the subject that is painted in each piece.

I gather dirt from across Montana and beyond and have even been gifted dirt from across the world to create with. Each piece has its own story to tell with dirt that has “seen” a lot of history. The practice of painting with dirt itself goes back to the beginnings of art and storytelling.

Adventuring out into the ever changing landscapes of Montana to find new colors and textures is the beginning of each piece I create. I always carry something to gather dirt with in my pack along with water, my sidekick (a German Shepherd/Saint Bernard), usually a fellow (human) adventurer and occasionally a whiskey treat for the end of the trail. There are a vast amount of different tones and shades to collect but also finding dirt that carries with it moments and whispers of the past is the hidden gem that customers enjoy the most. It’s that “something more” they can connect with and every collector can take home the full story each piece has to offer.

Being a part of rural Montana my whole life and exploring the mountains and prairies that exist there is why I choose the subjects I do. They are what I have seen and been surrounded by since birth. They are what my artist eye has known best. The wildlife I’m lucky enough to catch a glimpse of, the plants, bugs and views that fill the space around me and the agricultural community I’ve been lucky enough to know are what I love to capture most.

Once I have the dirt I use my mortar and pestle to refine it into the finest powder possible. The finer it is, the more details I can shape. After that all that is needed is a clear adhesive to help bind it to the paper, skull or whatever found treasure I’m painting it on. At times I choose the subject matter based on what color the dirt is that I want to use. Other times I choose dirt from an area where that animal or view may be seen.

Painting allows me to filter out all the noise of the world. Dirt allows me to add more to each piece than the subject itself ever could. Every painting takes with it the peace, the history and the emotions contained in every splash of it.