Five years have gone by since I was awarded the Fellowship and I traveled to Spain, to paint and to explore. The passage of time has given me a perspective through which I can reflect on the significance of this experience. Unquestionably, it has been one of the most important milestones in my artistic journey.
My travels have given me many fond memories of places, adventures, and friendships. I walked the boulevards of Madrid, and I stood where Antonio Lopez stood when he painted his “Gran Via”. I trekked with a shepherd and his 3000 sheep in the spectacular Pyrenees mountains. I lived in the gypsy quarters of Grenada and painted the narrow cobblestone streets, while flamenco dancers came back home after a long night of work. I encountered the early works of Sorolla in Valencia as well as his mature masterpieces in Madrid and I was blown away by the dark Goyas in the Prado. And while traveling, I met contemporary Spanish artists, whose work I admire. I visited their studios and made lasting friendships. I felt the support of friends, family, and strangers – rooting for me during my adventures.
But beyond the impressions of places, museum masterpieces and even new friendships, there was something else, quite intangible, which may have been the most important of all. I was an artist ALL of the time. I was an artist with a purpose, with a wind behind my sails and with people believing and supporting my talent, whichever way it may decide to go. It was the validation that we need as artists to sustain us on our artistic journeys.
Spencer Simmons, 2018 @thespencersimmons
The Donald Jurney Traveling Fellowship was, in fact, a life changing opportunity. It harkens back to the times of old and the various academic prizes like that of the French “Prix de Rome.” The value of seeing Europe and exploring its cultural riches through the Fellowship gave me a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. I was able to spend two months exploring Italy. I spent my days as I pleased, painting, drawing, observing, and creating memories so rich I can barely believe they happened.
Irvin Rodriguez, 2019 @irvinrodriguez
I had the privilege of traveling to Italy to study and experience the wealth of art history, museums, and culture through the generous support of the Donald Jurney traveling fellowship. The biggest take away from this trip was the feeling of certainty that the right choice was made to pursue this ever-inspiring path of a painter. You can never stop learning. There are so many museums and cultural institutions to visit throughout the world, you could spend a lifetime and still not see you at all. It’s a beautiful thing.
Patrick Okrasinski, 2020 @patrickokra
I will forever remember the Donald Jurney Traveling Fellowship as a preeminent and seminal artistic experience. I set out to be able to make the most of it--to travel and paint across as many important cities as I could manage. I was able to visit eight countries, dozens of cities, and countless museums. I had a train pass, two backpacks, and my oil paints, and with some careful organization I was able to spend over two months traveling and painting across Europe.
On one hand, I had never been exposed to so many great works of art and centers of culture, and in such a short span of time. I was able to visit such important collections as the Ufizzi, the Prado, and the Rijksmuseum within weeks of each other. I tracked down the locations of paintings done by my favorite artists of the past, and I gained new admiration for artists I had not known of before. I was immersed in history and art, going 2,500 years back into history, if I count my visit to Paestum.
Painting almost every day while seeing all this great painting taught me a thing or two, and helped create a new body of work as an emerging artist. And while the days came and went, and that adventure came to an end, all the memories will remain and no doubt have an affect on the rest of my artistic output going forward.