Passionate about nature and wilderness, Jessica is frequently found in the less traveled areas of our National Parks, the forests of North Idaho, and other wilderness areas. Her work is driven by her attraction to the natural world and the ways that land anchors human culture, defining our history and experiences. Jessica’s background in the field of American Studies serves her art career, providing the foundation for her interest in understanding landscape and our outdoor heritage.
An early love of landscape was initiated by the sights and sounds of the undeveloped field below Jessica’s childhood window, and cultivated by time spent exploring family farmlands in Minnesota and Iowa. As a child, she loved watching storms roll across the plains, listening to meadowlarks, smelling manure, and laying in the grass at night while the milky way lit the sky. Road trips sparked a desire to discover what lay beyond the horizon – to start walking and just keep going and going.
Jessica is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Watercolor Honor Society, Allied Artists of America, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Northwest Watercolor Society, and Idaho Watercolor Society. Her paintings are regularly shown in national and international exhibitions. Jessica’s work has been featured in numerous publications, including: Art of the West, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, International Artist, American Art Collector, PleinAir Magazine, Watercolor Artist, Art of Watercolor, and the Splash: Best of Watercolor series.
Jessica has served eight terms as Artist-in-Residence for the National Park Service. Parks served include Badlands National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Western Arctic National Parklands. The Western Arctic is a grouping of three NPS units located north of the Arctic Circle, not frequented by visitors, where Jessica journeyed into the back country by float and bush planes to explore on foot. She has also served as Artist-in Residence for the Idaho Conservation League and for the Bureau of Land Management in the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness Area in southwest Idaho.
A dedication to conservation and wilderness anchors Jessica’s life and work. She is the current Vice President for a local conservation organization, the Tubbs Hill Foundation, and works to engage all ages in outdoor learning and stewardship. She also plays bagpipes and is the Pipe Major of the Coeur d’Alene Firefighters Pipes and Drums.
Believing firmly in the importance of sharing knowledge, Jessica enjoys teaching and helps others develop their own unique voice and approach while simplifying the medium of watercolor. She offers workshops online through Terracotta and Artefacto.
Represented by Coeur d’Alene Galleries and Settlers West Galleries.
Jessica L. Bryant
Watercolors
AWS, NWS, TWSA, AAA,
WHS, WFWS, NWWS, IWS
