Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Although I was born in Toronto, I have lived, gone to university, worked and spent time in Newfoundland off and on over the past few decades. As I have created things since I was a small child, I suppose one could say that I’ve been an artist for almost half a century! As well as working as an artist, I am an arts educator who nurtures the creativity inherent in children and youth. My work as an artist and arts educator have taken me all around the world, from Toronto to France, England, Guatemala and, of course, back to Newfoundland.

You often produce artworks in series – Surge, Flatrock Tapestries. Are these birds part of a series, or just lovely creatures that caught your eye?
I have done many different series inspired by Newfoundland and its landscape, including Surge and Widening Circles. Recently I have been exploring the ancient history of bird painting and was inspired to create works that focus on the birds of Newfoundland, with its diverse birdlife and powerful environment. (I often see and hear different birds, including crows, woodpeckers, gulls, owls and eagles outside my studio in Flatrock.)  These works are part of a series, Birds of Newfoundland, that celebrate this abundance of life.

What artists, not necessarily visual artists, most influence you?
Although I love a wide range of arts including music, dance, literature, and even magic – my husband is a magician – my first love is exploring the history of art and the work of both contemporary and historical artists. I appreciate that I come from a long lineage of artists. These birds were created with different techniques that have been used by artists since Medieval and Renaissance times.
I also love looking at artists, particularly Leonardo da Vinci, who have explored anatomy deeply and have been a student myself of human anatomy for many years. It has been a major influence on my figurative work. For this series, however, I also studied the anatomy of birds.

What media do you like to work in and why? Do you have a work routine?
I enjoy working in a variety of different media and, in fact, my artworks often include up to four different media at one time. These bird artworks, for example, include ink, watercolour, and gouache, all layered in such a manner to capture the detail and depth of their feathers and the anatomy.
Although I have studied how historical artists have employed different media and techniques, I also like to experiment with materials to create artworks that have contemporary feel.
When I’m working in my studio in Newfoundland, particularly in the summer, I generally work in both the morning and the afternoon. I also spend time wandering outdoors as my studio is just off the East Coast Trail. These wanderings are part of my creative practice as the vastness of the ocean and the landscape, regardless of season, are an endless source of inspiration.  During these wanderings I often find a special spot, and do a watercolour sketch, working en plein air. I also have a smaller studio in Toronto for work when I am there.

What’s next for you?
As Newfoundland has such a wonderful abundance of birdlife, I plan on adding to this series of birds. I will also continue my exploration of the human body. As the body, however, is part of its environment, the works will also have a connection to some of my other series such as Surge and Widening Circles. At the end of the day, it is all about my deep, visceral connection to the environment, the landscape, and the life forms that inhabit it.

Images: Northern Flicker (2025) Ink, watercolour, and gouache on paper, 6 x 9 in; Pine Grosbeak (2024) Watercolour, ink, and gouache 7 x 9 in framed: 14.5 x 16.75 in; Crow (2024) Watercolour, ink, and gouache 7 x 9 in framed: 14.5 x 16.75 in; Downy Woodpecker (2024) Ink, watercolour, and gouache on paper, 5 x 7 in; artworks by Jessica Levman; images courtesy Emma Butler Gallery.