Check out Jillian Bennett’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Bennett.

Jillian, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I am an artist originally from California. Growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors surfing, skating, snowboarding, swimming and running so nature always fascinated me.

In 2009, I had a big skateboarding accident. I was in critical care for a week or so and then bedridden/ in a wheelchair for a few months after until I was able to hobble around in a boot and use my hands again.

While recovering, I applied to the University of Hawai’i in Manoa. There I studied painting and drawing under amazing teachers. Then I went to study art and the Italian language in Italy for two semesters. After returning to Hawai’i and graduating, I traveled for a few months before returning back to California where I met my now husband (who was on vacation from England and staying at my house and driving my car… thanks to my mom).

Shortly after returning from traveling, I was accepted into Cambridge School of Arts in England to get my Masters in Children’s Book Illustration. There I did a lot of small scale work that made me just want to do large work again.

After my Masters, I moved back to California and continued to work on my large scale paintings/drawings of charcoal, chalk, and acrylic.

After a few more years of long distance and going back and forth to England, my husband and I got married in California and he was transferred out here to Tempe for work. After a bit of searching on places to work out of, I was able to find The Creative Center of Scottsdale and that is where I currently work on my painting/drawings 🙂

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am inspired by universal relations between space, man and nature.

I work a lot with charcoal, chalk, and acrylic to create large expansive landscapes. I use the process of repeated construction and deconstruction to create a raw look because I want to transport people to the feeling of nostalgia and wonder for the place we live in.

I tend to either have no people in the image or just a tiny figure nestled in the landscape because I want everyone to be able to place themselves there.

The figures often show no race, sex or otherwise. This is because I want people to look at the big picture; however, I want them to also acknowledge the importance of their own existence.

Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
Authenticity. Since there is so much content to easily access these days, some artists can get caught up in reproducing what is working for others. Unfortunately, you can find a lot of the same kind of images floating around, but that is also why I get so excited when I see someone who is staying true to their path and creating for themselves and not for the trends.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Currently people can see my work on my website jilliantheartist.com or on social media:
Instagram: @jillbirdee
Facebook: Jillian Bennett Art

Since I am new to town, I am still scouting places to display my work here in Phoenix. I am working on doing a solo show later this year and look forward to sharing more details in the future! Every once in a while I also do collaborative shows with other artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jilliantheartist.com
• Email: jmb@jilliantheartist.com
• Instagram: jillbirdee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jilliantheartist/

Image Credit:
Jordon Bennett, Jillian Bennett

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