A skilled and dedicated artist, Jessica Cook has embraced a passion that has been with her since she was a child. Encouraged by her family and an exceptional teacher and fascinated by people and things around her, she grew up drawing and painting them.

At the University of Texas in Austin, she pursued dual degrees in English and Advertising, leading her to teaching and marketing careers. However, she recognized her need for creative expression and, while still working full time, she once again took up her pencil and paints and began a disciplined practice of life drawing sessions and a daily visual journal of everyday life: stores, concerts, cafes, and street scenes as well as scenes from her travels in the United States and Europe. Jessica worked with several outstanding and inspirational teachers to further her art studies.

Using lively brushwork and bold color, Jessica paints in oil and water media, creating expressive figurative scenes, which are often narrative.

Jessica lived in Atlanta for many years but has recently returned to her Texas roots, living outside Austin.

She has had several one-woman shows and has been accepted into several juried group exhibitions. Her works hang in collections across the country.

Art Statement

I have always been intrigued and inspired by the endless varieties of human expression. Creating figurative works has helped me observe and listen closely, to move beyond first impressions, and empathize with others. My inspiration often comes from vintage photos, travel, or my sketches of everyday scenes.

As I evolve as an artist, I am abstracting the figure more, playing with exaggerated color and focusing on shapes and movement to capture the emotion and spirit of the person in a particular scene. Ultimately, I want people to be uplifted by my art or participate in it by creating their own stories.