J L Rees
Rocky Mountain National Park, Mixed Media
One of my earliest memories is being placed in a bright yellow laundry basket in the backyard and told, “Watch the trees.” I did, far longer than anyone expected. That simple invitation shaped the way I see the world.
Trees became family, lakes became trusted friends, and mountains offered embraces without hesitation. Nature was never simply scenery, but a steady, generous presence—a source of wonder, connection, and belonging.
Today, I return to the language nature first taught me to create art. Vast landscapes, like those of our National Parks, inspire large multimedia paintings that seek to translate the energy and scale of being there. Other places invite a quieter response, becoming very small oil paintings in my series Whispers—intimate moments of connection that I hope viewers approach with curiosity and care.
Ultimately, I hope to create work that stays with someone: a painting they return to, drawn by something they cannot quite name. Whether or not they take it home, I hope a connection has been made—a memory, a feeling, a question.
Writing is my profession and a deep source of joy. Art has been my heart song: a journey of observation that I look forward to sharing more widely now on the road ahead.
