Jennifer Roussin, artist 
"It was thought that "coloured chalks," as it used to be called in English-speaking countries, promised nothing but sketches of an ephemeral kind, so fragile that they were at the mercy of every chance blow or every touch of dampness. The fact is, that with care no greater than is accorded to every work of art, pastel properly used is not more perishable than the oil-painting or the water-colour."
"Damp will affect it seriously, but so also will it ruin the water-colour; and rough usage is to be feared for the oil-picture not less than for the pastel. Moreover, pastel possesses advantages that can be claimed by neither oil-painting nor water-colour. That is to say, if pictures in these three mediums be hung side by side for a hundred years in a fair light and in a dry place, the oil-painting will have darkened and very probably have cracked; the water-colour will have faded; but the pastel will remain as bright, fresh, and pure as the day it was painted."
- from the Encyclopedia Britannica
I am currently working in pastels, oils, and colored pencils. At this time I'm doing many landscapes en plein air. Pastels and oils are both very good media for working en plein air. I am in my element when working out of doors. I believe that the fresh air, the light, and the sounds of nature all come through into my painting. There is an immediacy and a spontaneity that occurs in plein air painting.
The main reason I love pastels is that the colors are so pure and intense. Color is my love, after God, my kids, and my husband of course. Not only that, but pastels are very straightforward and direct, which are also two adjectives that describe my personality.
An advantage of colored pencil work is the ability to layer colors, which produces a deep, rich, glowing effect. Some other techniques I use are sgraffito, impressed line technique, solvents, erasures, and tape removal. I like to use a very heavy, toothy paper, and I tend to layer the pigment on thickly for a richer effect. I enjoy allowing some of the linear qualities of the pencil to show through to add texture and visual interest.
All of my originals are created using conservation materials. This means that my paints, pastels, pencils, paper, boards, and framing materials are permanent, acid-free, and light-fast. With proper care, they will last for decades.
Since I enjoy rendering architecture and structural elements, painting house and boat portraits is one thing I do well. Imagine having your own home or boat immortalized by an original hand painted work of art. This would make a very unique holiday, anniversary, or birthday gift.
I can also do commissions of patios and garden landscapes. I can do your portrait in soft pastels or colored pencils. All I need is a decent photo with good lighting, and I can take the rest from there. If you live in or around the St. Louis area, I can come over and take photos myself, if you wish. Feel free to contact me for a price quote, or any other questions you may have.
At the age of eight I was introduced to art when I took lessons in drawing and painting for a year with various media: charcoal, graphite, pastels, pen & ink, watercolor, and oils. I got away from it for a while. After getting a business degree with an emphasis in computers from University of Missouri - St. Louis, I was a programmer/analyst for 7 1/2 years. I married my husband Jon in 1986. In 1991, I returned to school and got a degree in Special Education. A year after completing my education, my son Jonathan was born.
I got back into art in 1995. I began working with polymer clay, and started making jewelry from it using the millefiori caning technique. I also started making tiles, boxes, and picture frames. I sold these pieces at local and regional art shows.
In 1999, I began taking classes in drawing and painting again. I have had classes in drawing the human figure, drawing the head and face, drawing hands and feet, techniques in colored pencils, landscape painting, composition, color theory, advanced color theory, night scenes, perspective, and painting en plein air. I have enjoyed the privilege of studying with Jerry Thomas, who has been a successful professional artist for 50 years. Currently I enjoy doing landscapes, florals, and portraits of my children. I work either from real life, or from a reference photo. When I work from a reference photo, I take the liberty to interpret the subject in my own way. All originals and reproductions are done using archival quality materials. I use mostly pastels, oils, and colored pencils.
After my second child Andrew was born, time became a rare commodity. So I began painting in pastels. I have developed a looser style and a broken color technique in my more recent works. The pastels have encouraged me to do this. I use various colored strokes close together. This creates an energy and vibrancy not found in carefully blended areas.
I have had the honor and pleasure of receiving a merit award at Art-on-the-Fence in 1997, an Award of Merit at the Missouri Spring Festival of the Arts in 1999, an Award of Recognition at Art Happening in 1999, an Honorable Mention at the Creative Art Gallery Pastel Show 2004, and a First Place award at the Creative Art Gallery Pastel Show 2005.
When I'm not busy creating art, I like to spend time with my family, take walks, ride my bicycle, geocache, sail, visit the Missouri Botanical Garden, and read.
My limited edition prints are hand signed and numbered. They are made in one of three ways: 1) a laser reproduction of a digitized image, 2) a high quality photo reproduction, or 3) giclee print. They come in several sizes. See the specific image for the actual sizes available. All are matted and mounted in off-white. The matting has a buffered, acid-free backing and core, and the inside edge is bevel cut. The mat width is approximately 2 to 4 1/2 inches for small to large prints respectively.
If you see an image, and wish for a print of it, please email me. Chances are, I will make prints of it in the future if the demand calls for it. I just haven't gotten around to it yet, because I'd rather be out capturing all this beauty on paper.