Jill Valliere

I began my formal studies in 1997 at the Rhode Island School of Design, where I received a certificate in decorative painting.  After graduating from RISD, I spent twelve years working alone and alongside many artists creating murals and specialty decorative finishes in homes and commercial spaces throughout New England. I truly enjoyed the uniqueness of each job and the challenge of creating a finish to match the vision of each of my clients. It was those many years of working with decorative painting materials, that brought me to the unique technique I now use to create my fine art paintings.

I have always been interested in vibrancy and texture within the surface of a piece of art.  My interest has carried over into my process of layering, adding, and subtracting in my work. Throughout the process, I use a sander and exacto-blade to break through layers of glazes and varnishes, to expose the depth of color that I slowly build up over time.  I often incorporate metal leaf, which allows light to travel in and out of each piece.   

I am an adventurer, experimenter, and mess maker.  I love working in my studio alongside my dogs and feel very lucky that I am able to do this for a living. My studios are located in Rockland, Maine and Todos Santos, Mexico.