Jyll Ethier-Mullen
I am a contemporary artist that grew up in Rhode Island. Studying illustration and painting at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2003, I was able to develop my skill-set, while developing my own unique style of characters, desert flora, textures, and landscapes. I was mentored by Don Primiano and Kathy Kittell from the age of eight years old to the time I graduated college. In the upstairs studio workshops of Don's Art Shop in Warren, RI, I studied drawing, oil painting and watercolor. I began my career as an artist in Rhode Island and Massachusetts entering gallery shows and art festivals. Through multiple moves from the east coast to the west coast, I have shown in several galleries in Los Angeles County, and Ventura County. I was also an artist in residence at Studio Channel Islands 2018-2021 in Ventura County, CA. In February of 2021, I moved to Phx, Arizona. I am inspired by my surroundings, organic colors, lines, and shapes of each homestead landscape, which includes the beauty of both coasts. Over the years, I also gave birth to three boys. Being a mother and an artist is very challenging and there are a few years that I had to let my art aspirations rest patiently. I am passionate about creating abstract landscapes that are inspired by our world. My work is rooted in nature and personal experiences. I am inspired by the beauty of the natural world, and my art is an exploration of the relationship between humanity and the environment including hiking and national parks.
Through my paintings, I strive to capture the vast wonder of the natural world and to communicate the importance of preserving it. I also use my work to explore the power of human connection and the stories we carry within ourselves. My creative process involves working with traditional painting media, such as acrylics, oils, inks and watercolors. I also use photography as a tool to capture the incredible landscapes and to inform my artwork. My paintings are often a combination of multiple elements, including organic shapes, collaging vibrant colors, and an array of textures with lines. I paint, draw, and collage to fulfill the creative desires of my heart and mind. Through my process of creating art , I enjoy repeating shapes and line work that create organic movement through my pieces. Gold lines dominate a lot of my recent work in creating waves, mountains, desert and other landscapes of my surrounding geography. My aspirations include being a part of an artist community, to have a studio outside the home, more exhibits, and continue my art-making practice, including participating in an artist residency.
