Articles

Montana Artist Amber Jean Works on a Grand Scale

AmberJean — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:37:06 -0600

Real Women Profile - BALANCE magazine

AmberJean — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:09:10 -0600

Chainsaws and inspiration: a conversation with artist and outdoorswoman Amber Jean

By Melynda Harrison (Balance Magazine Dec 2010)

Amber Jean lives at the end of a road on a mountain outside Livingston – a self-proclaimed hermit at times. Her two loves are art and outdoor recreation, and often the two merge. It’s hard to define Jean, or put her in a box. She is a chainsaw wielding multi—media artist, outdoor adventurer and speaker who raises money for non profits every week wth sales of her artwork. She volunteers with Eagle Mount, was a Big Sister with Big Brothers/Big sisters and is a model for other women breaking into tradition ally male western mediums.

She climbs frozen waterfalls, scales mountains, rafts whitewater – and perhaps just as daring – stages spoken word performances melding her artistic and outdoor adventurer lifestyles.

She learned to handle a chainsaw as a young woman during summers clearing trails and fighting wildfires. When she embarked on her art career in her 20x, she taught herself how to sculpt wood, starting with the skills she learned in the woods. She is known for her large-scale wood furniture, totem poles, and reliquaries carved with a chainsaw and honed with chisels and sandpaper. But, she also paints – murals, paper, wood reliquaries – and creates one-of-a-kind monoprints, casts bronze, welds metals and writes. Check her out at www.amberjean.com

What do you consider your greatest strength?

The bond between my heart and mind enhances vision, entices depth, encourages spirituality and keeps me on my toes – never lacking for inspiration.

What do you consider your greatest weakness?

The relationship between my heart and mind can be quarrelsome, sprinkled with doubt, and fired up with fear – keeps me up at night.

Who are your heroes/role models?

My mountain soul mate Cliff - the “zen logger” who is ever steadfast in his unconditional love, straight forward approach to life and strength of character is unwavering in his approach to friendship.

My life soul mate Paul – a renaissance man whose impressive drive, uncompromising commitment to fatherhood, intelligence, humor talent and grace inspire me.

What’s your favorite book?

Trying to pick a favorite book for me is like trying to pick a favorite color. The mood, the day, the project, life’s composition or the composition in my artwork dictates the “favorite” book (or color) of the moment. My favorite changes constantly but is intuitively right for that moment or that stroke of paint. I have always had a great love and need for books (and color).

What is the key to balancing your roles in personal, family, career and health matters?

Balance is elusive. Perfectly juggling personal, family, career, and health matters is not really possible for me. Honestly, I am more interested in just keeping the balls from hitting the ground or bouncing out of reach. My key is to stash a ball here and there in my pockets- always close and ever-ready to be the main focus. When I’m snuggling with Paul’s kids before bed, I don’t think of my career and am not juggling that ball but if I have a looming deadline I might miss a cuddle session now and then. The “big” picture seems balanced and it works.

What is the best advice you ever used?

Thankfully, I attended a women business owner conference in West Yellowstone while still a pup in my career as an artist. While there, I gleaned the importance of PR and realized it was up to me to let the world know my art exists. The idea of being “discovered” while living my life at the end of a road near the top of a mountain in Montana is simply a myth that too many artists embrace. Career advice for someone in the arts: “Don’t wait to be discovered, follow your passion but include marketing and PR as part of the job.

What's your dream job?

I’m living my dream job but to make it dreamier I would have more art in public places to share with a broad audience. I would spend more time on my own creations and less on commissioned works and I would devote more time sharing personally via story-telling to inspire and encourage others to pursue their dreams and live their passions.

What do you most want to change about yourself?

Insomnia has haunted me since I was a child. I would love to go to bed each night knowing that I will be granted a scrumptious drool-on-your-pillow sleep.

What do you most love about yourself?

Fueled by the ability to laugh easily at myself and life, my optimism carries me places and gets me through murk and muck that would most likely thwart others.

What do you do to relax?

Hot baths with essential oil are scrumptious and relaxing, also red wine and chocolate. The “nap room” at my studio is essential.

Standing Tall Amber Jean's Personal Reliquaries

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 18:42:47 -0500

by Michele Corriel Distinctly Montana Thursday, September 01, 2005

Making it Big, The Sculptures of Amber Jean

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2003 19:02:25 -0500

by Gail Jokerst Montana Living Thursday, May 01, 2003

A New Star Rises in the West

admin — Thu, 31 Jan 2002 18:05:42 -0600

by Peter J. Stephano Better Homes & Garden Wood Magazine Friday, February 01, 2002

"Amber Jean: Rustic Sophistication..."

admin — Sun, 31 Dec 2000 18:08:59 -0600

by Taylor Fogarty American Western Magazine Monday, January 01, 2001

Visit ReadTheWest.com to read this article.

Dream Job #101

admin — Thu, 30 Nov 2000 18:11:50 -0600

“I felt like I was in Willy Wonka land,” explains Montana artist Amber Jean. “The chocolate totem pole was 14 feet high. I had to use a forklift to get up there.” For the last two years, Nestle’ has commissioned Amber-a wood sculptor – to carve spookily huge objects out of their cocoa-flavored stuff for Burlington, Wisconsin’s, annual mid-May Chocolate Festival. Her 1999 contribution was the totem pole to the left.

Nap of Luxury

admin — Sat, 20 May 2000 18:58:02 -0500

"Nap of Luxury" by Andy Johnson Journal Times Saturday, May 20, 2000

Cowboy Goes Baroque

admin — Mon, 01 May 2000 18:59:27 -0500

With $38,000 to spend on American furniture, you could buy a lovely sideboard, c. 1795, or several documented Gustav Stickley pieces, or a contemporary mahogany and juniper bed featuring wild mustangs carved on the headboard by Amber Jean of Livingston, Montana.

"Sculptor's Newest Works Have a Jungle Feel"

admin — Fri, 31 Dec 1999 18:01:02 -0600

"Sculptor's Newest Works Have a Jungle Feel" by Brenda Binkerd Livingston Enterprise Saturday, January 01, 2000

"The Art of Western Craft"

admin — Sat, 16 Oct 1999 19:02:06 -0500

"The Art of Western Craft" by Lori Tobias Denver Rocky Mountain News Sunday, October 17, 1999

"Young Montana Artist Honored . . . "

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 1998 19:03:13 -0500

"Young Montana Artist Honored . . . " Park County Weekly Thursday, July 30, 1998

"Amber Jean Wields Chain Saw..."

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 1998 19:04:44 -0500

Amber Jean’s pickup bumps and lurches from side to side heaving down the rutted dirt road through the wind whipped snow.

She is explaining her ideas about art as she chauffeurs two visitors down from her cabin in the Wineglass area above Livingston.

Suddenly, the big truck slows to a crawl.

“It’s like the clutch isn’t going in,” Jean mutters.

The pickup rolls forward, not quite catching. She fiddles with the gearshift. Suddenly, she’s off again.