About Jessica
Jessica grew up drawing and painting in rural northwestern Pennsylvania and earned her B.F.A. in Illustration from Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Watercolor has been her medium of choice, ever since she was introduced to it by a few talented professors.
Soon after college she headed toward the big skies and mountains of the West, and has never looked back. Happily settled in Missoula, Montana, she and her husband enjoy backpacking, fly-fishing, and exploring dirt roads for inspiration.
Jessica is a signature member of the Montana Watercolor Society. She exhibits her award-winning work fre
Soon after college she headed toward the big skies and mountains of the West, and has never looked back. Happily settled in Missoula, Montana, she and her husband enjoy backpacking, fly-fishing, and exploring dirt roads for inspiration.
Jessica is a signature member of the Montana Watercolor Society. She exhibits her award-winning work frequently in shows at the Hockaday Museum of Art in Kalispell, MT and other National juried shows.
Portraits by Laurie Childs Photography
Artist Statement
Having grown up in small towns in rural areas, I’ve developed an appreciation and sentimentality for antiquated structures and their enduring craftsmanship. Everywhere are the relics of functional, yet aesthetic designs from our histories, testaments to how we’ve cultivated a culture from our surrounding landscape. Now that I live in Montana, I’ve found inspiration in Western cultural themes and iconic objects, as well as the region’s native flora and fauna.
Rendering surface textures is often an integral part of my work. I love the clean, simple nature of watercolor, as it allows me the control I desire for crisply painted, textural details found in my subjects, whether it’s aged leather cowboy boots, or the foliage of a Rocky Mountain wildflower.
Recently I have been combining my love of Montana history with painting, using antique paper ephemera foraged from antique stores and estate sales, to create contemporary works celebrating nostalgia and the inspiring characters in our lives, past and present.
In my work, I focus not only on the unique physical attributes of my subject matter, but also what story they have to tell. I want encounters with my paintings to inspire a closer look, a moment of private study and appreciation for thoughtfully crafted areas of detail. Viewers will hopefully share in the sense of discovery that inspires me as I journey through this world.
Affiliations and Representing Galleries
