About the Artist

As a painter, I find inspiration in gathering and replicating fragments of nature, holding
them close for revelations. While ultimately I want my work to be beautiful, I hope that the study of a careful observer may find a reflection of their own life in my work, even eternal knowledge. In the sublime products of the natural world we can unlock the paradoxes that pervade every part of life: Nests of birds juxtapose our need for security and structure, with the ever present desire for freedom, flight; egg shells convey the strength we hold within us, but also the constant vulnerability of being alive; The backs of horses represent a universe that is constantly holding us, but only if we come to trust it. These images are born out of experiences that have informed me both practically and spiritually. By bringing in actual fragments of what I find right outside my door, eggshells, or the branches of trees, I aspire for my work to transmit even a fraction of the healing power as the living world.

Subjects of my pieces have included the great multitude of birds of the Midwest, the wild horses that once roamed free here and the domesticated ones that thrive. Recently I have expanded my mixed medium pieces to include the use of antique maps from a time of exploration, invoking our still present need to explore ourselves and the outside world. Other subjects have included abstract landscapes, Japanese inspired art, and commission pieces representing patrons' family members.

My studio is located in St Charles, Illinois. Please contact me at jrossart @ gmail.com