Home       Contact  Info        Poetry

"The beautiful is in nature...Once it is found it belongs to art, or rather to the artist who discovers it."
Gustave Courbet

Jacqueline Hensel

Jacqueline grew up near the Pacific Ocean in California. Strong memories of the gray mornings, headlands, cliffs, beaches and the sound of the fog horn lingers. Jke now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. Always an admirer of birds, Jke at one point thought of becoming a bird artist. Then there were the wonderful illustrated books that captures the power of line and design which led to a second career possibility—a Children’s Illustrator. Having a versatile artist as a mother helped to steer Jke towards trying her hand at woodcuts, sculpture and painting, especially plein air painting of sea and landscapes. Spending time in nature led Jke to being both a watercolorist and an environmentalist. Jke’s college studies included anthropology, art and biology. In 1990 she started working in watercolors and fell in love with the medium. Being so non-toxic and portable she realized there can be the simple quick color sketch, a watercolor illustration, a travel sketch using pen & ink plus watercolor and then watercolor painting. Some of Jacqueline's illustrations have appeared on book covers for John Caris and in a leading Japanese magazine illustrating her father’s article on steelhead.

Putting music into a piece—the high and low notes, the push and pull as artist lingo, intrigues Jke. Then mood and color captivates her. Then Jke is charmed by the unexpected spontaneous effects in watercolor painting.

Jacqueline participates in many group shows and solo shows. Her four loves are Environment, Spirit, Art and People. Her main pursuits in life and art are spending time in nature, respecting all life forms, growing in consciousness, balance and volunteering. Favorite artists are Sargent, Rembrant, Chagal, Cole, Homer and contemporary favorite artists are Frank Francese, Timothy Clark, Joseph Bouler, Robert Burridge, Don Getz and Geroge James.

Jacqueline is proud of her family, her husband Peter Hensel (writer extraordinaire and Feldenkrais practitioner) and her son Frank Darling (General Contractor).
Art Associations

Marin County Watercolor Society (and editor since June/2003)

California Art Club, Marin Arts Council
Artist Statement

As an environmentalist/artist I join the people of the world who strive to preserve and protect our sacred and gallant planet, its habitats and creatures for the now generations and those in the future.

I enjoy the creative process of slowing down life's pace and being still and strive to work from a centered space. From the language of the birds and animals to the dance of the artist brush, creativity is my way to connect and acknowledging the greatness of spirit everywhere.