BIO
Canadian artist Jean Morrow describes painting as a form of meditation where creative energy flows through her and onto the canvas. She typically prefers to work on large to mid-sized canvases. Her work is instantly recognizable by her use of vibrant colour and sense of movement.
Jean’s journey as an artist has unfolded over more than three decades. Born in Saskatchewan, raised in Ottawa, after retiring from a successful tech career she devoting herself to painting full-time in 2010.
She is continually learning and experimenting with new techniques and approaches, keeping the work fresh, vibrant, and engaging.
Based in the artistic community of Almonte, Ontario she lives and works out of the historic Thoburn Mill in her loft-front studio. She has travelled extensively across Canada and has a deep appreciation for the Canadian landscapes and the many ways they shape our sense of home.
Jean began painting using oils and after exploring various mediums she fell in love with acrylics, she knew she had found the right medium for her work.
She is greatly influenced by the interplay of light, water, winds, and nature. The brightly coloured abstracts and landscapes are designed to evoke a sense of contemplation and beauty. Energy, fluidity, and movement figure highly in her work.
The starting point for her paintings maybe a photograph or a concept but are less about literal description and more about mood, memory, and the emotional resonance of place.
Her work is in many private collections across North America including several pieces in the United States Ambassador’s residence in Ottawa.
Jean says painting fulfills a need to create something from within and when it resinates with someone else it is deeply fulfilling.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Using acrylic paints and mediums on mid-size to large canvases, I create brightly coloured paintings that celebrate the beauty and energy of the natural world. From my Morrow Gallery studio in the historic Thoburn Mill in Almonte, Ontario, I look out over the Mississippi River and surrounding countryside, drawing constant inspiration from shifting skies, moving water, and the changing seasons.
Painting is both passion and meditation for me. As I work, the painting progresses organically, layer by layer, until the composition finds its own balance and begins to “breathe.” That moment when the work takes on a life of its own and seems to flow through me onto the canvas is what keeps me returning to the studio day after day.
Colour and fluidity play a vital role in my work. I strive to convey the constant motion that animates the natural environment. Even in calmer, more contemplative pieces, there is always a sense of underlying energy, a gentle reminder that nothing in nature is ever completely still.
I want to offer viewers paintings they can live with – works that invite contemplation, spark joy, and uplift their homes and lives. When a painting resonates with someone else, when it speaks to their own memories or dreams, that connection is the most rewarding part of my practice.
Ultimately, my aim is simple: to create something of beauty.
Shows:
Currently on display at the Morrow Gallery in the Thoburn Mill and select Relax locations.
Oct. 2021 – Crown & Pumpkin studio tour – juried show
Sept. 2020 – Dec 2020 – ARTPrior Gallery, Arnprior, Ont.
Jan. 2019 – Sept. 2020 – “Shape of Water” Stairwell Gallery, Almonte, Ont.
June 13- Nov 13, 2019 – Featured artist at the Thoburn Mill Gallery
Oct 12-14, 2019 – Crown & Pumpkin Studio Tour – Juried Show
June 2019 – Featured artist at Equator Cafe, Almonte, Ont.
Nov 2018-May 2019 – “Orange Burst” Stairway Gallery, Almonte, Ont.
July-Oct, 2018 – “Blown Away” Under the Stairs Gallery, Almonte, Ont.
Oct 6-8, 2018 – Crown and Pumpkin Studio Tour – Juried show
June 2018 – “In Pieces” Under the Stairs Gallery, Almonte, Ont.
June 2018 – AJA55+ Art Tour
May 2017 – Arts Carleton Place Spring Show
August 2016 – Solo show at Giardino Lifestyle Salon & Academy
May 2016 – Arts Carleton Place Spring Show & Sale
Nov 7 – Dec 20, 2015 – Thoburn Mill First Floor gallery
August 1 – 29, 2015 – Thoburn Mill Gallery
April 10 – May 24, 2015 – Spring Voices -Sivarulrasa Studio & Gallery
Oct 27, 2014 – Thoburn Mill Studio Tour part of Apt613 Gallery tour in Almonte
Oct 2012 to June 2013 – Artistic Landscape Design Gallery – Ottawa
May 2012 – Solo Show at the Chambers Gallery – Almonte City Hall
June 2012 – Solo Show at the Corridor Gallery – Almonte Public Library
November 2011 – Crown and Pumpkin Studio Tour – Juried Show