Petra Jacenkova
. Abstract and symbolist paintings .
My paintings do not tell a single story. They are open.
Some see dreams in them, others symbols, others their own memories, or parallel imaginative worlds.
I do not expect them to always be understood. Rather, to be perceived and felt with openness.
And sometimes, it is enough to simply pause in front of them for a moment.
Explore the gallery.
My name is Petra Jaceňková. I come from the Czech Republic and I live in the southwest of France.
I create paintings that do not arise from external reality, but from an inner world.
I do not seek to faithfully depict reality. I paint what I feel — what comes from within and from a deeper connection — through dreams, inner images and visions revealed during sleep, in silence, or in fleeting moments throughout the day.
Sometimes an image comes to me as a clear vision — during the day or at night, waking me from sleep. I quickly sketch it so it does not disappear, and then return to sleep. At other times, it begins as a spark, a feeling, an emotion or a subtle impulse without a fixed meaning or final form, which gradually unfolds intuitively during the act of painting.
These visions and impulses are often accompanied by a strong inner necessity, but also by a joy — the joy of bringing the image into form, of translating it from the invisible into matter.
I perceive the frame of the painting as an entry point — an invitation into a parallel world, another dimension, a space of imagination. What fascinates me is revealing this world step by step through the application of paint.
Color and light are essential in my work and are deeply interconnected. Color is a manifestation of light — each color corresponds to a different wavelength, a different vibration, and therefore has a different effect on the viewer. Through color and the work with light, I seek to capture subtle vibrations, the atmosphere of a moment, and its emotional resonance. Not only to depict light, but to allow its energy to truly act within the painting.
Each painting is a process — layering, searching, returning. It is neither fast nor superficial. It is a quiet and slow work in which I try to remain sincere — both to myself and to what I wish to express or what naturally emerges.
I invite you to experience them with an open heart and allow them to resonate within you. And if my paintings evoke emotion and encourage you to see with your heart, then they have fulfilled their purpose.
How I work
I often stretch my own canvases by hand (I use high-quality linen or cotton canvases and also reuse frames from second-hand paintings). I then prepare the canvas for painting — first sizing it, and then applying gesso.
My paintings are built in layers. I use professional-quality oil paints (Rembrandt, Sennelier, Old Holland, and sometimes Pébéo for the lower layers). I usually work in 3–4 layers, allowing sufficient drying time between each — at least 2 weeks between each layer.
I begin with a subtle tone that unifies the canvas (imprimatura). This is followed by the first structure, a suggestion of forms and relationships. The image gradually opens, deepens, and transforms. Some parts disappear, others emerge. Nothing is final at once.
I work mostly in thin layers, which allow light to pass through the painting. This can create depth, softness, and an inner luminosity — something that does not remain on the surface, but radiates from within.
Color, for me, is not just an aesthetic choice. It carries meaning, mood, and energy. Warm ochres, deep blues, violet transitions — everything interacts. I seek an overall harmony between elements, forms, and colors. Only when I feel this harmony do I consider the work complete.
The creation of a painting is a gradual process that can take months, sometimes even years, if the painting needs to “mature.” It is a slow, layered process in which the image gradually comes into being.
After completion, I treat the painting with a temporary protective varnish, and after a minimum of 6 months of drying, I apply a final varnish.
Finally, I equip it with a hanging system, and if necessary, I reinforce the canvas with wedges.
I also offer art prints and original works on other supports (paper or unstretched canvas), presented in handmade passe-partouts that I create by hand.
Explore the gallery.