Jessica Dey – Q1 Art Competition – Artist Portfolio Magazine

• Artist Portfolio Magazine – Q1 Art Competition
• Jessica Dey – Torrington, CT

As a former Civil Affairs Sergeant in the Army I spent time investigating other cultures while doing country studies as part of my training. This is part of what drew me to the Army job to begin with, the chance to explore the differences in the world. As I spent time in Iraq, helping to solve the many problems, I was among the people, and I grew to enjoy the sights, sounds, and culture. I was always eager to go on a mission even if all I did was guard a truck, because I got to see the city of Baghdad and stand amid it’s people. That hunger for experiencing the world, different people, new cultures within cultures didn’t leave me when I left the Army, if anything it has grown stronger.
As a painter, the places I’ve been and my experiences impact me, each part of my personal story enriches how I see the world around me. It has changed what I feel is important to paint and how to paint it. A major Art movement that impacts my current work include the old Dutch masters, their genre of still life and portrait would be the most influential. Many of their works included everyday things but included the unseen or less noticed scenes that held a message. I have used these ideas to paint more contemporary pieces with similar themes in still life. I also look to the works of Janet Fish for a fresh way to view still life.
I was born in Vermont but grew up in Connecticut. I joined the Army reserves straight out of high school, but I was always going to be an artist. The Army was going to be a pit stop so I could pay for my education. While in the Army I was a Civil Affairs Specialist and eventually made the rank of Staff Sergeant, this job involves “winning the hearts and minds” of the countries around the world where the U.S. has a presence. I had the pleasure of two Iraq tours, one from 2003-2004 and one in 2008. I also attended Defense Language Institute in Monterrey California with a target language of German. In June of 2005 I gave birth to my son who is my only child, his father and I divorced in early 2009. I remarried in 2011 and live with my current husband and my son in Torrington Connecticut. I graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a Bachelors of Art in Art in May of 2012.