Jill Saur has been selling her original artwork to collectors throughout the United States and abroad for twenty-five years. Her work has been featured in her own gallery in Historic Roswell, Georgia, and premier galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Vail, Colorado, Dallas, Texas, and New York. Her prints can be found nationally through catalogs and retail chains. Jill has been licensed by the University of Georgia to render artwork that represents the school. Jill rendered UGA VI to commemorate 50 years of the mascot’s history. However, Jill is most importantly known for her soulful rendering of trees in landscapes, especially her aspen and birch trees!
Although Jill was born in New York City, she spent most of her youth living near the ocean in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Inspired by the beauty of the sea, her love for nature was born. At the age of twelve, she started painting in oil with her mother, an accomplished artist. Jill felt a deep connection with this form of self-expression and continued to paint and draw throughout her teens.
As Jill studied business and journalism in college, she found that the desire to paint was too strong to ignore. She turned her attention to study watercolor painting with such well-known artists as Budd Biggs, Jane Jones, and Larry Westin. Two years later, she started to sell her aspen tree paintings to collectors, who follow her work to this day.
After moving to Atlanta, GA, Jill attended the Atlanta College of Art to further her studies in both oil and acrylic painting, and to study the human figure. Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Jill opened her own art gallery in Historic Roswell, Georgia. She successfully showcased and sold her own artwork exclusively for over four years. In order to find more time to paint, Jill moved her business to her private studio. Jill continues to take her art to exciting new levels, and feels that the best is yet to come!
Artist Statement
“My artwork is a natural outpouring of my encounter with God and His majestic creation, resulting in paintings that are dramatic, uplifting, and full of life! I look for beauty and truth in that which is both obvious and sometimes hidden. I’m captivated by the splendor of light on the surface of objects, and the contrasting shadows that those objects project. I’m equally beguiled by the myriad of colors that frolic about my world, and invite me to join in on the dance. My artwork is a waltz that I engage in with brush, paint, and spirit. It brings me great joy to share the result of that dance with those who collect my work!
My tagline is “joy on canvas”. It was given to me by Stan Lee, the creator of Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk and numerous other super heroes. When asked to describe my work in just three to five words, Stan’s response was, “Joy on canvas”, because according to him, my work exudes sheer joy”.
INFLUENCE
"I'm known for my tree paintings, especially, aspen and birch trees. The earliest experience I can remember that affected my love for painting trees, was watching my mother paint when I was a young girl. With every whimsical brushstroke, she seemed to have a way of bringing her trees to life! Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I took our daughter to Colorado. The beauty of the white aspen and birch trunks, and their quaking iridescent leaves, captured my artistic eye and filled my senses with wonder. I was hooked. I have returned to Colorado and New Mexico numerous times to photograph these amazing trees for subject matter, and to refresh my artistic spirit".
PROCESS
“The process I use to paint in acrylic and oil is greatly influenced by my early years in watercolor painting. I gradually build up layers of paint in order to capture an illuminating glow. I also developed a style of creating rich texture with my palette knife. I discovered this technique years ago when I was experimenting with creating texture on the bark of my aspen trees. I use this process on the leaves making them look as if they are going to come off the canvas. Before I start any painting, I do a quick gesture drawing to loosen up and then I sketch out my drawing. This helps me to be sure I have a good composition and strong area of interest. I lay out my color palette before I begin to paint. This way, I can be sure it is well orchestrated like a fine tuned symphony”. Jill Saur's Art
"God's creation is a living breathing canvas. My artwork is a love letter to my Creator, expressed with brush, paint, and passion". - Jill Saur
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