Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroleen “Jett” Green
Hi Jett, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a professional artist. I usually say “professional because I am not a “try this and try that” kind of a person. I don’t dabble. I usually dive into what I have an interest for and get inspired to pursue it to my fullest potential. I have studied and pursued and made money in many creative venues. Fine Art, Matte Painting for Visual FX, singing, acting, jewelry making, flying trapeze, and dance. I followed my inspirations.
My story? I was a little girl who learned visually but didn’t know that about myself at the time and neither did anyone else. I did not comprehend exactly what people were trying to teach me. I needed visual orientation, not just words. Therefore, I did not excel easily. I grew more scholastically in high school but my favorite pastime was doodling. Creating my own projects at home. School was generally a burden and not an exciting place for me to be.
At the age of 18, I was inspired by a friend of the family to draw an object. The friend was a student at Art Center College of Design in California. I saw his drawings and loved them. I strongly felt inspired to draw too. So, I decided to draw a pair of nail clippers. To my Suprise….. I could draw. My doodling paid off! From there I took off… Art classes in college and then I ended up at Art Center College of Design in California as well. I Studied illustration and then went into painting. I fell in love with traditional realism. Color theory. I found my niche, my freedom, and confidence in being. I thoroughly loved being in Art School. From there I got a job in a sweatshop in Atlanta, Georgia. Yes, a sweatshop for kids just out of college. I was an illustrator. The only woman on a team of about 5 other guy illustrators.
Although it was a knitpicky hellish job, working with a mean and uninspiring art director as well as some arrogant fellow illustrators… this prepared me for my job at Industrial, Light, and Magic.
( LucasFilms I.L.M. in Northern California) After a year of being pushed, tested, and kicked around at the “sweatshop… in order to make me into the best illustrator they could… I received a call from my friend Frank Ordaz who worked at I.L.M. at the time. He called to let me know that the matte dept at I.L.M. was looking for another painter for their department. I.L.M. was the top movie FX company, in the world at the time. I was beyond excited… somewhat jaw dropped.
Frank and I were friends from college, in 1974, I was 21 and Frank was 19. Frank was a catalyst for me, a connection for me …many times…
I loved painting and Frank introduced me to his painting teacher, Ted Lukits, next he advised me on what to put in my portfolio in order to get into Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Ca. In 1983 there was an opening for a Matte Painter in the Matte Department at Lucasfilms Industrial, Light, and Magic. Frank reached out to a few of his artist buddies calling us in to try out.
I wanted to paint and illustration was not as inspiring as I hoped it would be. The door opened up. My training as an illustrator kicked me into gear, for the test the Matte Dept. at I.L.M. had sent me. I was told to blow it up twice the size of the photograph and paint this in one month. This was the (painted in acrylic) test: (see photos)
I finished it, made every square inch as perfect as I could get it and the guys made the decision to hire me! I became one of four women artists at the time at ILM.
I was young, quiet, pretty, and worked my ass off. At times I would sleep overnight at ILM just to keep up with the movie-making pace. I had no social life and rarely dated. I loved learning about matte painting and working with a group of guys I considered to be like brothers. They were all brilliant creative souls. I felt proud of the movies we were working on and who we were working for…. George Lucas and directors: Steven Spielberg, Leonard Nimoy, Wolfgang Petersen, and Ron Howard just to name a few.
I stayed in the movie business for special FX for the next 33 years. In between, I studied, singing and acting dance, and other creative inspirations. My life is a creative fountain of unknown experiences. Here I am.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say it hasn’t been a smooth road but I’ve also had an equal amount of joy and deeply rewarding experiences with the artistic process as well as with my fellow artists I worked with along the way. The connection I felt in bonding with some of my colleagues made up for all the difficult times. Some difficult experiences standing out for me were the critiques and then a few years later realizing that the critiques were what made the company I worked for the best in the world. “Making it better and polishing ” is the process, the work, not the hip hip hoorays. Some of the experiences that stand out for me along the way:
1. Standing in front of blank 30 ft x 60 ft canvas backdrop knowing I had to paint a sky on the giant surface within a couple of weeks. My forklift awaited me. (Generally matte painters didn’t paint backdrops) Our surfaces were usually 4 ft x 6 ft.
2. Within the first month of getting the job I failed several times. Upon painting the sky for the Never-Ending story’s “Spire Shot” I came to work the next day and found my painting was dripping hundreds of drops of linseed oil. I was shockingly concerned, due to my inexperience as an oil painter, I found out that using gobs of linseed oil with the oil paint is a big “NO”. Lucky for me, my painting mentor, Chris Evans saved the day and fixed it.
3. After a month of working at my wonderful job, I was almost fired. Yes… almost… because I threatened my supervisor if he decided to let me go, He would be making a big mistake because “I am supposed to be there!”. And so, He kept me on. Years later, when I worked at another FX job (the Orphanage on “Hellboy”… we crossed paths again, and I ended up encouraging him to learn the computer stuff… and I taught him the basics of photoshop.
4. One most important lesson I learned: Never get intimate with your supervisor or anyone on the job for that matter especially if you break up. It makes the critiques unbearable.
5. It’s fun to be face to face with the boss and the tours of potential clients. George Lucas, Steven Spielburg, Leonard Nimoy, Robin Williams, Michael Jackson, Harrison Ford, and Peter Gabrial to name a few….as well as to work with the many artists who had already won academy awards. It was all so uplifting and inspiring.
6. A Funny experience- Again the first month I was at work, I went to sign out my time card, at the front desk, I turned around and saw George Lucas, Steven Spielburg, and Harrison Ford chatting up a storm. As I turned around to look back as I walked out the front door, George was waving goodbye to me.
Unfortunately, I was incredibly shy at the young age of 30 and practically ran away out the door! Too much famous energy for me!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work: I am an open channel for inspired creative endeavors. If I make money for doing what I’m inspired to do…then this is a good thing. Right now, I am inspired to oil paint. I love creating surreal images. Giving the viewer a feeling within themselves… settling themselves into a peaceful place. “Other worldliness”
In my own personal work, I have the ability to paint realistically. Paint with real paint and brushes. Not just on the computer. I still love the smell of oil paint on canvas.
I also audition for acting and then find myself completing a repaint of my carbon fiber road bike. All in fuchshia and orange with two hand-drawn dragons, a mermaid, and an octopus. I’m just about ready to spray the clear coat layers! I am also in the process of filming and creating my own DIY movies for my YouTube Channel. Stay tuned!
I am known for Matte Painting or creating Environments for Visual FX and Animation. My personal work is influenced by the years of training I’ve had in this field. Traditional painting and Computer generated.
I feel unafraid to pursue projects that most people or might not try to do themselves because of my experience in the movie industry. For example, I replaced my 85-foot fence in my backyard. 155 pickets with a transparent coat of redwood stain. Yes, I am 67 years and 108 pounds but this does not stop me from doing what I want to do.
I’m proud that I have lasted in the business for as long as I have and people respect me for my skills.
I received a lot of compliments from people in their late 30s and 40s, who grew up watching the movies I worked on in the 80s. “The Never-Ending Story” and “Indianna Jones and the Temple of Doom”, “Goonies”, ” Laberynth”, A couple of “Star Wars ” and “Star Trek “Films. They get inspired by those films and knowing that I was a part of creating them sends a deep smile my way.
What set me apart from others is the fact that I was one of 4 women who worked on those movies in the 80s. I like to think that we paved the way for other women. Inspired them to know that they can do it too.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Learned during Covid: -The importance of family and friends outweighs any job or career.
These points I already knew before covid:
-I love and can be alone for weeks on end because I am creative, I love creating… I love painting.
-I am an artist.
-My intuition is my guide.
Pricing:
- Prints available upon request: usually in the $300- $600.00 range
Contact Info:
- Email: jett.12nspire.u@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.caroleenjettgreen.com & https://www.saatchiart.com/jettgreen
Image Credits
Cameron Spooner Photography
Art photography
Coupralux
