Wedged between city streets and green hillsides, I grew up in my backyard surrounded by summer breezes whispering in the trees, the smells of honeysuckle and sodden earth after a storm, and distant birdsong on a rainy day. I’ve always felt connected to nature and the Appalachian wilderness. Somewhere in those hills, I discovered my love for nature and painting, and I was inspired to share that with others. Growing up, I always knew the natural world would somehow intertwine with my life. When I learned how to paint, I felt in my bones that painting was my calling; it became a means of communication and a way to express my appreciation for nature. Over the years, I’ve grown as an artist and discovered my purpose: teaching others to paint, fostering conversation through my artwork, and making art that reflects what I love and where I love to be.
Photo by Shiloh Leath Photography
Hi! I’m Jes, the artist behind The Painter’s Nest. I live and work in Wheeling, West Virginia, where I exhibit and sell my paintings as well as teach watercolor classes in and around the Mountain State. Some of my earliest memories of art-making are of flipping through nature books with my dad and sketching the animals I found most interesting; I discovered my love for watercolor after college when I decided to become a painter, despite not knowing how to paint. Through practice and persistence, I became a full-time artist exhibiting my work in galleries, selling my greeting cards in brick-and-mortar shops, and offering watercolor workshops throughout West Virginia and beyond.
I’ve taught watercolor classes and workshops since 2018 and have taught all over the Mountain State thanks to grants from the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Most recently, I wrote a grant through Wheeling Heritage to purchase new watercolor supplies for my workshops at Table 304 in Wheeling. This grant allows me to keep my palettes full of paint and workshop costs affordable.
Teaching watercolor has introduced me to some wonderful people and places, and it’s one of the many reasons I enjoy sharing my love of watercolor. I’ve bonded with people over art, nature, and travel through my workshops, and it’s always exciting to see that people keep painting after my workshops. Usually, I receive two or three emails per month with former students sharing what they’re working on or paintings they’ve finished. I
Interested in taking a workshop? I’d love to paint with you! I’m currently offering a series of workshops at Table 304 this spring. My next weekly workshop is Demyst
You can register for a workshop at thepainteresnest.com
