Wildlife Art - Artist Feature on Jean Pritchard

Artistic Beginnings

I met up with Jean Pritchard in her home art studio this week, where she produces her award winning Wildlife Art. The Artist also runs her busy zoom classes, from this home studio, that are zoomed around the world to eager students ready to learn Jean's unique painting techniques. Perfected over a lifelong practice of doing art.

Jean told me her earliest memories of 'doing art' were from lessons given to her as a child by her Uncle and Godfather. He was well known Artist T. Leslie Hawkes - A watercolour artists so Jean's roots stem from watercolours.

On Sunday morning classes in Dalton it was recognised she had a keen eye for detail. Jean has been a member of Barrow Society of Artists since she was 14. Her first memory of this was having a painting rejected for the exhibition at the time! It was a portrait she had drawn at school and her Uncle Leslie took her round the exhibition where there were portraits accepted to show her why, 'Mine wasn't accepted. I still remember it! It made me work harder to improve.' She said. She is still striving for that improvement with every painting she does, we may think everything is fantastic that Jean produces but she continually pushes herself to improve on her last painting- reaching fantastic levels in every painting she does.

After taking 'O' Level and 'A' Level art she decided she wanted to go to Art College. She had to go through a years foundation course to get on the course she wanted which was 'Scientific and Technical Illustration' at Blackpool College of Art. She said " I loved this course which was taught by practising illustrators which was brilliant."

Working Life

After qualifying Jean stopped around Blackpool and worked, for a year, for a small pottery company doing the gold lettering and design transfers for China Pots. The Artists parents, at this time, ran the local village petrol station in Askam so she returned to help her parents with their business while teaching watercolour classes in the evening which lead to her taking a City and Guilds Teaching Qualification.

Owl and Moth

Jean Married and started a family teaching part time but taking a break from her own painting for 10-12 years.

Then the dawn of the internet brough to her attention what other artists were doing and found the National Wildlife Art Exhibition. She sent in an entry. Saying ' I hadn't a clue what it was about but thought I would try it. My painting of a Barn Owl was accepted and it sold! I was hooked back into painting.'

Exhibitions' and Rewards

Jean showed her work for a few years at the National Wildlife Art Exhibition then it evolved into the Exhibition of Wildlife Art on the Wirral which she has now shown at for several years. She also shows at the Southern Nature Art at Rookesbury Park and Marwell Art Exhibition at Marwell Zoo in Winchester. She has been a finalist in the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year competition and has won some awards at the Association of Animal Artists Exhibition.

Raising funds through her paintings for animal charities has also been a feature of the Artists finely tuned works. A painting of two Snow Leopards was sent to Melbourne Zoo to auction for vital funds for an animal charity.

Jean has admired over the years Artists, Robert Bateman, Raymond Harris-Ching and John Seerey- Lester. For her these are the real wildlife artists, the real deal and so inspiring. I think exhibitions give Jean the opportunity to meet up with other Wildlife Artists as this is an under- represented group for Exhibitions for artists in this area. But, you find Wildlife Artists are very passionate about their subjects and the representations they are creating.

Below is a selection of Jean Pritchard's Wildlife Art for you to view. She stated she loves the big cats. Dedicating hours up on hours to perfecting each painting to represent her passion for photorealism with a twist of Jean's signature soft edges and creating focus on the facial details and interactions of the subject she is painting, capturing beautifully each animals nature as she creates depth by drawing them out of the canvas she is working on.

Jean Prichard has also exhibited with Barrow Society of Artists at their annual exhibition on many occasions.

She has also been a yearly feature artists for the Societies members monthly demonstrations.

Life Drawing classes have taken off under Jean's careful direction too and the Society is very thankful to Jean for running these classes for members and members of the public who are interested in brushing up on their quick observational skills in self directing, untaught classes.

Painting Process

Jean works primarily in oils now as she feels this medium helps her achieve her vision. She uses oil in a very watercolour way and has developed her own technique from her watercolour days.

'The light is what I love to try and emulate and if I can, pulling the subject out of my canvas makes me happy!' Says Jean.

Jean also does a lot of pet portraits and she feels this has given her a good grounding to paint wildlife subjects. Her commission list is 2 years long which she says, 'Blows me away!'

Zoom Classes

Jean does not do face to face classes anymore. Because of covid she started to teach on Zoom and has kept going. 'I teach people from all over the world' she says and I (Marina) can vouch for the success of these zoom classes and the fantastic community Jean has built with a following of both professional artists, amateur artists and beginners in a good friendly atmosphere focused on the detailed Zoom Classes Jean produces. You can do these classes live or on catch up at your own pace.

The Zoom Classes have been running for over four years now and I can also vouch that they are informative, each painting covers something different and many that paint along under Jean's detailed instruction have been on the classes since Jean started them or the Artists came across them. Jean uses the reference photos she uses for her own work to do these classes and does not hide anything about her painting process, materials used, or the knowledge she has gained from being in the art world for over 40 years.

Its fascinating to watch your own and other peoples art improve with Jean's guidance. Many use the paintings produced in Exhibitions or to sell, some just use the classes for personal pleasure, there is definitely therapy in picking up a paintbrush and producing good works.

Jean said 'As I hate technology I had to teach myself how to use zoom, cameras, lights, streaming programmes etc. Youtube is brilliant for this! I really love painting. I want to see my subject come to life from a blank canvas.' and I think you will all agree she can certainly put that life into the wildlife she paints so magnificently.

Contact Jean directly with enquiries about her zoom classes or Art by visiting her website The Art of Jean Pritchard - Home

where you can see more of her fantastic work.

or visit her facebook page using the link https://www.facebook.com/jeanpritchardartist

Blog by Marina

Chair of Barrow Society of Artists