Jessica's Story

- Horses opened up the world of art for me. -
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"I was practically born with a passion for horses—no surprise, since my mom rode throughout her pregnancy with me. But like many young families, we didn’t have the time or money to fulfill a five-year-old’s big horse dreams. So my mom did the next best thing: she began drawing horses for me.
One by one, I taped her sketches to the walls until I had a full herd galloping across my bedroom. But as our family grew and life got busier, I got impatient waiting for my mom to find time to draw. So, with the help of an old how-to-draw book (which I still have), I picked up a pencil and started sketching them myself.
A few days later, my family found me racing down the dirt roads of Eagle River, Alaska, with a hand-drawn horse head taped to my bike’s handlebars and a yarn tail streaming behind me. 
Growing up in a military family meant we moved often—and each move meant saying goodbye to friends, familiar places, and sometimes even the horses I had grown to love. But art was something I could always take with me. No matter where we landed, drawing became my way to reconnect with the things I missed and express the emotions I couldn’t always put into words.
Art gave me a sense of home, of belonging, and of joy. It helped me feel grounded in the chaos of constant change—and it’s that same sense of connection and confidence I now work to nurture in every young artist I teach."
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With over 17 years of experience teaching in public schools, Jessica has dedicated her career to nurturing young minds and fostering creativity in the classroom. Her passion for education and the arts has led her to transition into teaching Visual Arts online, where she continues to inspire and guide students of all ages.
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Jessica's approach to teaching is rooted in patience, encouragement, and a deep understanding of each student's unique potential. She believes in creating a supportive and inclusive environment that allows creativity to flourish, whether in a traditional classroom setting or a cozy home studio.
Outside of teaching, Jessica enjoys playing with her two dogs, riding horses, curling up on the couch with a good book, and experimenting with new forms of art, which often serve as inspiration for her art lessons. Her commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth is evident in her continuous pursuit of new techniques and innovative methods to bring out the best in her students.