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Jill Alexander

Jill Robinson Alexander was born and raised in Ottawa. A self taught artist since childhood Jill has constantly craved the artistic process through various creative ventures. Jill graduated from Commerce Art Program in 1978, winning the Illustration Award and 1977 Visual Art Award.

Jill has two hockey playing sons and husband, as a result the prolonged exposure to this sport has had a strong influence in her artwork. This hockey Mom was inspired to create a series of charming and very detailed hockey and figure skating scenes with a distinct Canadian flavour. Jill’s style is described as whimsical with bold color combinations for maximum impact. This is also evident in her oversize unique floral canvases resulting from her love of floral gardening. Ms. Alexander works primarily with acrylic paints and enjoys experimenting with various mediums to achieve a variety of effects.

2005 Artist profiled on REGIONAL CONTACT ,CJOH TV MAY 28
2005 Artist profiled in The Ottawa Citizen, May 9/10 as artist for Tulip Festival’s stolen
5 foo 5 foot tulip “Colors of Spring” as well as multi media coverage.
2003 Artist profiled in The Ottawa Citizen for an elaborate hockey mural. “Hockey Madness” .
2003 Artist profiled in The Ottawa Citizen, “Artist Uses Tulip To Pay Tribute To Diane Stuemer”.
2001 Artist profiled in The Ottawa Citizen, “Wild Woman With A Brush”.

Since 2002, Jill has devoted herself to her passion of painting as a full time professional artist. Ms. Alexander is painting up a storm throughout the Ottawa area with her creative art design business. Jill provides a variety of services for residential and commercial clients in need of PIZZAZZ effects and WOW factor, through canvas commissions, window painting and custom murals.

Participating juried artist:
2004 Kanata Civic Art Gallery, Mlacak Centre, www.kanatagallery.ca.
2005 The Foyer Gallery, Nepean Sportsplex, www.foyergallery.com
2005 Art Lending of Ottawa, www.artlendingofottawa.com

Memberships: Kanata Art Club, Nepean Fine Art League, Ottawa Art Association

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

The decision to devote myself to art on a full time basis came as a result of illness and major surgery. This challenging time in my life, was in retrospect a gift of which I am extremely grateful.

A re-evaluation of priorities arose from the experience. Achieving balance became my focus at the same time expressing my emotions. I do this by putting paint to canvas, in turn satisfying my intense and constant desire to create.

Presently, my subject choice revolves around the calendar. Flowers are my focus when I’m impatient for warmth, color and new life in nature. The combination of vivid acrylic color combinations, sensuous shapes and an extreme close up perspective on oversize canvas fulfills this need. I feel a sense of accomplishment if my painting does two things. First, the subject “POPS” from the canvas background through depth and dimension. Second, a common flower takes on exotic appeal as if examined under a microscope then magnified many times over for maximum impact.

Distinctly Canadian hockey and figure skating scenes become the subject of choice as Fall approaches. Raising two hockey players is my inspiration along with my desire to recreate fond memories. While simplicity in design is my focus for florals, the opposite is true for my hockey scenes. There must be a depth of detail required before I can lay the brush down and feel satisfied.

Continuous growth on an ever changing learning curve is my desire for myself as an artist. My passion to create art will never change.