Animal in You: What do you see in your inkblot?

Animal in You is a collaborative art project on Kickstarter. If funded, Animal in You will be a series of oil paintings by Jessica K Ballantyne, which explore subconscious symbolism via the interpretation of inkblots. Ballantyne will work collaboratively with her campaign backers (who she calls participants) by sending them an inkblot and asking them what they see.  The artist and participant will then have a conversation about what is seen which will inspire the development of the inkblot through layers of oil paint. The result will be oil paintings rich with meaning directly relating to the viewer’s response to the inkblot and Ballantyne’s interpretation of this through the painting process.

“What do you see about yourself in an artwork? What do you see about the artist in an artwork? Jessica Ballantyne brilliantly combines both worlds to create deeply personal works that offer insights into both yourself and the artist"- Tabish Khan, art critic and writer for Londonist

As icons of psychoanalysis, inkblots are used by Ballantyne as a way of visually exploring the archetypes of the mind and the symbolic meanings thereof. Animals appear in many interpretations of the inkblots, and this, alongside the common themes of animal instincts and unconscious desires already present in her work, led to the title; Animal in You.   Ballantyne believes that what is seen within the inkblots has a powerful connection to our personality, aspirations and beliefs about ourselves.  

“I love connecting so meaningfully with the viewer through the inkblots.I find it exciting to shift my perception to “see” what the viewer sees and then bring out that vision in oil paint, it's a thrilling experience!”- Jessica K Ballantyne.

The paintings will form part of the Animal in You virtual, interactive exhibition and live stream event in Dcemeber 2020