Sometimes, a piece is thoughtfully derived from a collaboration within a trip of inspiration with a friend. Other times an art-directed photo shoot is needed to develop images for creating as an inspiration for artist interpretation. Sometimes, it is necessary to purchase inspiration and reference being careful to insure integrity. At other times, an emotionally driven idea takes form on a blank canvas.
After considerable strategic planning, a direction is established and a blank canvas is hung on the board. Each piece is executed through hand application of organic natural pastels. And although I am perplexed at how often a viewer will fail to stop and enjoy the artistic license used to convey an idea,emotion or experience; The photorealistic quality of many of my pieces is a quality that I strive for. Each piece is an original done by my own hands.
About the Artist
J. Howard has always been an artist. Her artistic journey began when she was a child in Houston, Texas, showing an early talent for drawing and painting. In junior high and high school, she studied art privately and became an art undergraduate at the University of Houston. In graduate school she studied animated art and the mechanics of visually aided learning while working in the graphics and film industries. She is acclaimed for her vitality of colors, strength of composition and variety of subject matter. She creates vivid animated characteristics in every subject matter. Her talent expands into painting colorful landscapes, vibrant still life, life-like portraits with an amazing understanding of storytelling. Recently, she has come full circle, returning to her love for drawing in soft pastels that have won her honors.
Howard was recently selected as permanent member of the Southern Artist Group, a unique group of diverse talent representing the southern states of the U.S. She was selected to be one of 10 women chosen for a national show at the Custom House Museum in Clarksville, TN entitled “Women Painting Women”. She is the recipient of numerous top awards, including Hunting Art Prize Finalist where she was the sole pastelist. Her solo exhibitions in galleries and museums include a one-person retrospective of “A Texas View” in pastel paintings at the Saulsbury Gallery in 2017 and a retrospective of graphic expression in pastels at the Custom House Museum in 2020.
Widely published in books and magazines nationally and internationally, which include Art Reveal, Art Ascent, Art Quench and Pastel Art, J. Howard originals are also represented in many corporate and private collections. Her work ranges in size from small 6x6" to 36x 50".
