About the Artist
Jess Anderson
Born in Nampa, Idaho, Jesse Anderson has been doing artwork most of his life. There wasn’t a time, as a youngster, that he wasn’t sitting and drawing whatever his fancy was at the moment. He was given his first set of oil paints at age 11. In High School he was encouraged by his art teacher, Dorothy Long, to pursue art as far as he could go and they stayed in touch for the next 40 years. After high school, Jess went directly into the U.S. Army. Upon learning of his art abilities, Uncle Sam saw fit to put him in charge of the Battalion Training-Aids Department (aka, the art department). Following his discharge in 1968, he enrolled in Boise State College in hopes of getting a degree in Commercial Art. The College would only allow ONE art class the first year, and it was beginning drawing. This was not what he was looking for as the next step in his art career so he dropped out. Before leaving college, he met Cheryl, his wife of over 50 years. With Cheryl working as a bookkeeper to keep the bills paid, he enrolled in the “Advertising Art School” in Portland, Oregon where he graduated top of his class. He started his own commercial art business and his dream of making a living as a full time artist was in motion.
For many years, while working all day as an illustrator and cartoonist, he taught evening art classes for Chemeketa Community College. Following the tragic death of his daughter, however, he stopped teaching, closed down his art business and completely gave up art. After five years of healing, he began to notice the beauty in the sky and waters of Oregon once again. Finally, after spending a day photographing tide pools, fallen trees, rocks, streams and wildlife, he was ready to dig out the oil paints and dust off the easel. Once he started his first painting after the long hiatus, his artistic juices were flowing once again.
Teaching was a place where Jess excelled and was happiest. Not only has he taught at the college level, but also for State and Federal prison systems. He received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts to teach in a Federal Prison in Oregon, which, of all the places he taught, was by far his favorite teaching experience. He was not only an art teacher but also a mentor to many inmates. Jess says he was proud that these inmate/students called him a positive influence in their lives, not just in their art.”
Jess now has granddaughters who do art with him. ”Ever since they have been able to hold a pencil, they’ve joined me in my studio, coloring, drawing, and painting. I know they love art; I also know they love spending time with their Grandpa. I think those are both pretty awesome!”
Jess has made contact with many artists around the world. He feels a strong connection with other artists, no matter their genre, style, or media, and says he learns something from every artist he connects with.
Jess lives with his wife and dog near the Oregon coast. Wherever he goes, a camera goes with him He commented “To me, everything I see is just an artwork waiting to be put on canvas!”.
His personality is outgoing, his enthusiasm is catching, and his interests are broad. He paints the same way.
