With retirement awaiting, it was time for an adventure.
Jo Belmont and her husband were ready to try something new. The Indianapolis residents had spent more than 30 years teaching art, and with a wealth of free time now available, they made a bold decision — returning to Mexico, where her husband had grown up.
For six years, they lived in the state of Veracruz. Those precious years helped Belmont forge a bold style of artistry that continues to serve her today.
“I must say, most all of my paintings have a Mexican theme,” she said. “I like to paint old haciendas; we visited a lot while we were there, so I took photographs of old haciendas and old churches.”
Belmont brings an eclectic mix of watercolor still-lifes, ceramic masks and other works of art to Greenwood this winter, as the featured artist at the Southside Art League Off Broadway Gallery throughout the month of January. Her hyper-realistic works bring a wealth of detail, dramatic contrast, and the use of light and shadow to bring everyday items to life.
“I love the process. I like the drawing, figuring out how I’m going to do something — the challenge,” she said. “I like to continue to challenge myself with new things and more difficult things. That keeps me going and keeps me motivated.
“It’s something that’s always been a part of my being, and I can’t imagine not doing it.”
Belmont learned a love of art from her earliest childhood. When she was growing up in the Indianapolis, she was constantly drawing, using the pencils and sketchbooks her parents enthusiastically purchased for her. One grandmother was an oil painter, while the other did botanical drawing.
Throughout grade school and high school, she maintained her devotion to drawing and painting. Belmont ended up earning a bachelor’s degree in art education and art history from Eastern Illinois University, where she fell in love with the medium that became her passion — watercolor.
“I’ve always loved watercolor, ever since I took my first class in college,” she said.
After earning her degrees, Belmont accepted a position teaching art at Mt. Vernon High School. She taught for 31 years.
“I just loved it. I loved the job, I loved the kids, I loved the school, I loved my colleagues. I was happy there, and stayed there,” she said.
Belmont went on to earn a master’s degree in art education from Ball State University, in addition to earning a grant to study art history in Europe through the Fulbright-Hays program, which supports research and training overseas for teachers in the United States.
But with retirement looming, she and her husband discussed what to do next.
“We thought we needed one last adventure. So we moved to Mexico in 2006 and lived there for six years,” she said.
Belmont and her husband moved to a small village in the mountains, one of what the locals referredd to as Pueblos Mágicos — “magical towns,” a designation given to towns around the country that offer visitors “cultural richness, historical relevance, cuisine, art crafts, and great hospitality.”
During her time in Mexico, she devoted herself full time to studying watercolor painting. At the same time, she was influenced by the Mesoamerican culture that surrounded her. Dabbling in clay, she created more than 20 full size hand built ceramic masks based on ancient myths.
While in Mexico Belmont had six exhibitions: five solo and one with other Mexican artists.
“It was a very fun time artistically for me,” she said.
Belmont and her husband returned to Indiana in 2011 as her mother’s health deteriorated. Since returning, she has focused her efforts on watercolor. Early on, Belmont painted in an abstract style. She liked to experiment with what watercolor paint could do.
“I try to paint every day, for at least two or three hours,” she said. “Once I start something, I don’t like to quit or have a big lapse in time. It throws you out of sync.”
In recent years, she has tried more realistic paintings. Belmont took a workshop with a nationally known painter named Chris Krupinski, who specializes in still-life paintings.
That experience, coupled with her time in Veracruz, has transformed her approach to painting. A big theme in her art is food — particularly Mexican food.
“What I’ll do is, I’ll get recipes and I paint the ingredients,” she said. “So I have guacamole and I have salva verde and salso roja. Different things, like huevos rancheros and with eggs and tortillas and baskets.”
Belmont an award-winning member of Watercolor Society of Indiana, Indiana Artists Club, Hoosier Salon, Indiana Heritage Arts, Kentucky Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, and Northwest Watercolor Society.
Through her work in those organizations, Belmont connected with the Southside Art League. She plans to include a variety of her paintings from over the years in her January exhibition, including many still-lifes and some of the ceramic masks she’s made.
”I like people to see my work. I paint a lot of ordinary things, that you’d see in ordinary life. So by painting them, I want people to take a second look,” she said.
Belmont’s work will be hanging at the Southside Art League through Jan. 27. She will host an open-house reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 12 at the gallery, where people can meet her and learn more about her work.
“It’s been a fascinating journey. I can’t see myself doing anything else in my spare time,” she said.
IF YOU GO
Jo Belmont exhibition
What: An art show featuring a collection of the Indianapolis artist’s transparent watercolor paintings and several ceramic pieces.
Where: Southside Art League Off Broadway Gallery, 299 E. Broadway, Greenwood
When: Through Jan. 27
Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; closed Sunday through Tuesday
Reception: Belmont will host a reception for the public from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 12 at the gallery. Light refreshments will be served.
Information: southsideartleague.org
