Jean Bourque - SC Artist

Although I was born in the state of Maine, I never lived there. Within 5 days of my birth I had traveled to three states. My mom was very artistic and my grandfather Conrad Talbot was an artist, too. He painted in oils and played the drums. Mom wrote in my baby book, Jeanee wants to color on everything! We lived on Cape Cod and I saw artists painting at the beach all summer.

When I was in junior high, we moved just north of San Francisco, CA. I loved the ocean and mountain views and the great culture of the city. It was there that I saw Peter Max's art for the first time and many brightly colored artistic venues. My artistic expression went to bright colors. I met a wonderful group of teachers that did pottery, made candles, jewelry, did embroidery, painted, wrote and read poetry and taught me a lot about being an artist, writer, and teacher. People say they can see the east coast and the west coast influences in my art. Can you?

Not long after graduating at the top of my class as a Business Mgmt major and Marketing minor, I started marketing art for a friend and then for myself. I then went on the road selling framed prints to major retailers for a company from Los Angeles, CA. I saw great art on a daily basis and developed my art history and recognition skills. I eventually moved to Columbia, SC where I was fortunate to apprentice with Guy Lipscomb. He painted about 20 paintings a week mostly in acrylics with mediums and they were abstract with hints of realism. I learned a lot about abstract art principles and handled his art photography and marketing. I have taught marketing for artists at several galleries, been an art coach for many artists and have been involved with many community art events. I served as librarian at Crooked Creek Art League and as President of Seven Oaks Art League.

From the mid 90s, I have shown my art throughout the US and before the end of the century had also shown my work in the Netherlands and Germany. Since then I have been invited to many countries. My artwork has been represented by the Ward Nasse Gallery in NYC since 1999. I am also currently showing at Saatchi Gallery in England, The Enchanted Forest Gallery, Palmetto GBA, BC/BS, Back Porch Painters, and Richland Memorial Hospital. My artwork is for sale and I have six pieces in the photo section for you to enjoy! I also have a website at www.jeanbourque.com

Throughout the years, I have studied with many teachers and have always taken at least two classes a year. For about the last twelve years, I have studied impressionistic oil painting with Ilona Royce Smithken for at least one week a year, yet we paint very differently. She has taught me a lot about teaching others and I have been teaching private art lessons and am currently teaching art in a residential group setting. This spring I will be teaching two evening art classes at Seven Oaks in St. Andrews.

I have created an artist opportunity blog at http://artsails1.blogspot.com. Currently, I am working on three major shows, two for 2008 and two for 2009. I also am listed to be an artist in numerous small shows this spring and summer.

Blue Room Acrylic 24" x 18" Unframed	Bring It On Acrylic 30" x 24" Museum canvas	Double Crossed Acrylic 24" x 18"
Floral Fun Oil Pastels 12" x 12" Shrink wrapped original	Planted Oil 18" x 24"	Women of the Womb Oil 24" x 18"