Jill Starkey
:: jstarkeyart.com
I am an artist. It is what I am, not only what I do. I was born in 1950 in Newark, New Jersey. I am the fourth generation of women artists in my family and both of my daughters have artistic interests. From a very young age it was the only thing I felt was worth doing or being. I started studying seriously in 1963 while still in my early teens and I am still on the path of learning and expanding my envelope.
I owned my own business for over a decade in the sign and graphic art field. After becoming ill from the toxic paints used in the process I closed up shop and now concentrate exclusively on my fine art interests. My primary medium at that time was oil paint. When I could no longer work in oils I turned to pastels. I have discovered that the colors in pastels are very close to those in oils and I have been able to progress well beyond where I was in oil paints. I now work exclusively
in soft pastels, which I feel look very painterly with strokes showing as part of the
piece. My interest is captured by the play of light and shadow with the idea that
shadows can be warm or cool, light can be cool or warm and the choice of color
sets it all. I love color and try to use it freely and without necessarily adhering to
what is “seen” at the time. I work in a loose impressionistic/representational style
in the hope that the viewer will look and fill in the details that I have left out.
I feel that this creates viewer participation in an unconscious and comfortable way.
I have been teaching Pastel classes in the Pueblo area for the last 7 years
and my art is available for viewing at Art on South Main and at Mountain Living Studios, Manitou.