Meet the Artist
Welcome to Jill Storey Illustration, a dedicated portfolio site of Jill Marie Storey, a passionate Catholic illustrator and calligrapher. I am a wife and mother of six children, residing in northern Virginia. I have been drawing and painting most of my life, and writing calligraphy for twenty years. I am glad you are here!
Philosophy
Artistic Vision - Why Am I An Artist?
What I want most is to bring others, especially children, to the beauty of the Catholic faith Tradition. This can be as specific as illuminating a passage from Scripture, or as broad as a watercolor of God’s creation. It is a gift given exclusively to man to be able to co-create in an artistic way. I see this gift as a responsibility, not only as a way of self-expression, but also a powerful tool to pass on the beautiful truths of our Faith. There have always been artists to portray the seen and unseen realities of the universe. For the medieval Christians in particular, catechesis through art and craftmanship was of utmost importance. It is my belief that today, in a world that is largely illiterate of eternal truths and seduced by the artificial, a return to simplicity, integrity, and beauty will go far in reclaiming the culture for Christ, the Divine Artist.
Creative Process - What Inspires Me?
I seek inspiration from Scripture, the lives of the Saints, and from the simple things in real life.It is rare that I do not feel renewal after reading the Psalms, and try to make it a daily practice. I try to use real life as often as possible as a model, and my children have served as my models many times. There are also a handful of artists that I find particularly inspiring; I am always trying to expand my library of children’s literature with the likes of Barbara Clooney, Robert McCloskey, Tasha Tudor, Barbara McClintock, and Ernest Shepard, to name a few favorites.
Some of the materials I use and enjoy the most my are Staedler pencils, Micron pens, New York Central watercolor blocks, and my trusty Mungyo watercolor pan.