Feature artist for Sept. 2016: Jessica Desmoulin

(ANNews) – The whimsical art that is featured on the cover of the September issue of Alberta Native News is an acrylic on canvas painting entitled Flower Dancers by the very talented artist Jessica Desmoulin.

Jessica Desmoulin is an Ojibway artist of the Pic River First Nation born in Saskatoon in 1978. Her art is bright and colourful with an assortment of animal themes consistent with the new Woodland style.  Among other works, she is well known for her design of the logo for the Spirit Runner app which promotes positive lifestyles for Aboriginal youth.

After the birth of her second child, Desmoulin developed an illness that left her unable to work outside the home. Jessica took this opportunity to approach her art seriously and began to paint canvases and occasionally buffalo skulls. She credits the love and support of her family for allowing her the chance to explore her love of art.

About her connection to nature and the animal world Desmoulin states, “I have always felt a strong connection to the images that I paint; the animals in the wild and the earth that houses all the creatures. I am honoured to be able to paint these figures that I look to for spiritual guidance. I feel in each brush stroke a connection to nature, when I paint I feel my ancestral memory comes through. The copper, silver, gold and bronze in my works are a reminder of the precious material in our environment and that we need to cherish our world.”

Desmoulin has a fascination with patterns that is evident in much of her art. She says, “Patterns occur in nature over and over.  They are found in the rings of a tree, the waves in the ocean, the cracks in the earth and the petals on a flower.  I am fascinated by these patterns and by how colour plays an essential role in creating their design.  It is said that Nature is ‘the greatest artist’, and I cannot argue with that.  I draw my inspiration from Nature and from the Patterns I see in its many creations.”

For more information and to view the new works by Jessica Desmoulin visit bearclawgallery.com and drop by Bearclaw Gallery located at 10403 124 Street in Edmonton during the’ Nurturing the Spirit’ exhibit from Sept 24 – October 6, 2016.