Jean Wilson

About

Jean was born in 1953 in Chicago, IL. She lived at Audy Home and Lincoln Developmental Center during her early childhood and later moved to Sheltered Village in Woodstock IL. In 2000, Jean moved into L’Arche Chicago as one of the founding core members. Jean began working at the Arts of Life in 2007. An accomplished visual artist as well as a musician in the Arts of Life Band, Jean identifies strongly with animals, and frequently depicts them in her paintings.

“Art is relaxing and helps me calm down; it doesn’t make me mad. It makes me feel happy, and it makes me feel proud. I make animals in my artwork, I care about animals. Kitty cats and bugs because I like animals. Dogs are my favorite – Dobermans and wolves. Nature inspires me.”

Jean’s unique talent is to determine the emotional core of her subject matter and depict this as largely and loudly as she possibly can. Working with intense drive and astonishing rapidity, Jean’s work explodes across her canvas. With little preparation, she quickly depicts what is immediately on her mind and uses this to communicate what she cares about to those around her. Drawn to animals as subject matter, Jean concentrates on what makes her subjects powerful, dangerous, and respected. Before we notice anything else, we see teeth, claws, and glowing eyes. Her ferocious menagerie acts as protection for Jean and announces her artistic prowess with a mighty roar.

“I am my favorite artist. I want to sell my paintings and learn about drawing people. I wanna keep drawing and get an award. I want to shock them with my art! I want people to remember me when I am 910 years old up in heaven.”

This past year Jean created a public banner for the Oak Park Arts District. Her work was also featured in the Circle Contemporary show The Beasts, as well of the extension of that show at The Other Art Fair at MANA Contemporary.