Photographer and digital artist Jane Long was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1970. Currently based in Brisbane, Australia, she combines photography and photomanipulation to create slightly surreal images that straddle the line between reality and fantasy.
Completely self-taught, she has worked with Photoshop since 1994, both commercially and for personal work. This led to a love of photography, concentrating on conceptual work, with digital art remaining an integral part of her work.
Deciding to move into the fine art market in April 2014, her first series “Self-Preservation” received several accolades including several images being listed as finalists for the Macquarie Photography Prize and “Cured” being announced as a semi-finalist for the Moran Photographic Prize.
Her next series “Dancing with Costică” shot her to international exposure with features on over 150 prominent photography and general interest websites including ABC News US, Daily Mail UK, Daily Mail Australia, SLR Lounge, PetaPixel, Bored Panda and BuzzFeed as well as a number of photography magazines and Romanian TV! The series was exhibited at the Romanian Embassy in Canberra, Australia in March 2015 and December 2016, at the Romanian Photo Festival in May 2015 and she was selected as a core artist at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in September 2015.
Her work has also been shown at the Affordable Art Fairs in Stockholm, Hamburg, London, Singapore and Hong Kong through Retrospect Galleries.
Interest in her personal work has continued as well as commercial work for Decca Records artist Aurora who commissioned her for the album artwork for her debut release “All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend” as well as other record and film poster works.
In 2019 she was a finalist in the Click 19 photography awards and a finalist in the Olive Cotton Award. She was a finalist in the 2021 and 2022 Art Lovers Prize. She is currently exhibiting with Art Lovers on the Gold Coast and in Melbourne.
jane long photography
6/12 Seeney St, Zillmere
ph: +814 58 099 144
info@janelong.com.au
www.janelong.com.au
Dear Jane Long, could you briefly tell us about yourself?
I grew up in Melbourne and moved north to Brisbane about 20 years ago. I have two adult children who I adore and live in an apartment in the suburbs. I’m a fairly introverted person, but still enjoy a social life with friends. I’m a bit of a weirdo and like to walk my own path.
What life experiences influence your artistic works?
Some of my work is based around expressing myself at times when I have been very depressed or upset. Sometimes it is an expression of love or hope. Other works are less directly influenced by my state of mind.
Could you describe your overall vision? What themes attract you most in the fine arts?
I’m very much attracted to surreal works but I like to keep it rather subtle (for the most part). I like people to glance at my work and think “Oh, that’s pretty”, and then look again and see something they didn’t expect that changes their perception of the image.
Do you have projects that you start from scratch without knowing how the final will look like, or it happens to have works completely different from the start idea?
Usually I like to have things planned in advance. When you are compositing multiple images into one piece, you need to match the lighting direction, perspective, etc for each piece that will be included in the final image. For that reason you need to shoot each piece in a particular way to ensure everything is going to work cohesively.
How do you feel after each project, what kind of moods your works generate?
That depends on how happy I am with the result! Some projects I’m really satisfied with and that feels good but there are others that never really lived up to the idea I had in my head to start with. I find that at the end of each project or series I have a period of frustration trying to work out what I want to do next. I’ve learned that this is all part of the cycle of concept, pre-production, shooting, post-production and release.
What tools do you usually use for your art works?
On the digital side, I have a Nikon D750 and I work with Lightroom and Photoshop. But when I’m creating elements for costuming or head pieces I have my trusty jewellery pliers!
What advice would you give to young artists that haven't yet decided their paths?
Just try different things. You don’t have to fit a mould, be yourself. Let your mind wander, particularly in the concept development phase. Scroll through art sites and media sites and wander through galleries and there will be something that will spark an idea, which will in turn spark another idea.
I noticed in most of your projects there is a lot of surrealism involved. Do you find inspiration in surrealist painters? If so, what are your favorite surrealist artists?
Oh most definitely! I love the work of Nicoletta Ciccoli, Ray Caesar, Dilka Bear, Maggie Taylor, Mark Ryden, Daria Petrilli, Kevin Sloan. They are a huge source of inspiration to me.
I noticed "the eye" as a leitmotif in many of your works. Could you tell us what this represents for you?
There is always someone watching. Even if it’s only your subconscious. We are always on display. The prevalence of social media means we are much more visible to the wider community.
Have you ever tried to do similar artworks but in black & white?
I dabbled in black and white in my more traditional photography but I think of my work in terms of paintings and I enjoy working with colour. Colour allows you to paint a mood or make someone look more fragile and vulnerable.
Are there specific photographers that inspire you?
Artists like Brooke Shaden, Rob Woodcox, Lara Zankoul, Eric Johansson, Joel Robinson, Anka Zhuravleva, Laura Zalenga, Patty Maher, Annie Liebovitz, Aena Holloway, Benjamin Von Wong are all artists that inspire me.
"Dancing with Costica" series is fabulous and has been appreciated worldwide. How did it influence you afterwards? How did your life changed after this moment?
“Dancing with Costica” really launched my art career. Until then it had been more of a hobby/compulsion to create. I was happy with what I was producing but I really didn’t think anyone else would be particularly interested in my work. The Australian art market can be quite conservative and the “Dancing with Costica” series opened doorways to international markets that were more accepting of surrealist work.
Did you visit Romania or do you plan to visit "the roots" of Costica Acsinte?
I would LOVE to. I’ve wandered the streets of Slobozia on Google Maps and I would love to meet Cezar Popescu, the curator of the Costica collection in person. I’ve also become good friends with the former Romanian Ambassador to Australia, Her Excelllency Nineta Barbelescu and she’s told me such wonderful stories. I would love to see your country for myself.
What makes you happy in photography?
Seeing something unexpected. Good composition and well thought-out lighting. Technical competency. I’ve seen images that have been finalists in awards that are not even sharp or have unintentional movement blur and that annoys me.
Do you have a forthcoming project? Could you tell us in a phrase what it is about?
At the moment I’m working through the Incandescence project. This is very much about the lighting but using objects within the scene as a light source. I’d love to do more underwater work but I don’t have reliable access to a pool at the moment. I love the way fabric and hair flow underwater – it creates a very dreamy look.
Do you have a particular style that you love but you haven't tried yet?
Not really. I’d like to dabble in 3D work but more to be able to construct backgrounds or elements. I’d like to try more painted work, but again more as elements in my compositions.
What hobbies do you have?
At the moment I’m enjoying creating some abstract paintings with acrylics and gold leaf. I enjoy creating pieces for my home such as repurposing old furniture or creating a custom lamp shade. I don’t get a lot of time for hobbies as I still hold down a part-time job in addition to creating my art.