Jill Soukup




Jill Soukup was born in Buffalo, New York. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Colorado, where she still resides. Jill’s affinity for horses as a young girl resulted in countless drawings and studies of them, which made for a strong drawing foundation. As a teen, she started a pet-portrait business, acquired jobs painting murals, and designed logos for local organizations. She graduated from Colorado State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Art. There, she received awards for illustration and design and worked as an illustrator and designer for the university. She initially pursued a career in graphic design while continuing to paint part time. After 11 years as a designer, she made the switch to full-time painting. Her work continues to gain recognition as she receives awards, appears in national publications, and shows in important juried and one-woman exhibitions.

Education

Art Students League of Denver, various classes – 1991 to present
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO – 1991
Related Work Experience
Illustrations for Colorado State University campus newspaper
Corporate identity and graphic design for Monigle & Associates
Print and web design for Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Solo Exhibitions
Abend Gallery, Denver, CO – 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
"Compelled by Structure," University of Northern Colorado School of Art & Design Galleries, Greeley, CO – 2007
Timmons Gallery, Rancho Santa Fe, CA – 2004, 2006
Selected Group Exhibitions
Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO – 2009, 2010
Windows to the Divine Exhibition & Sale, Madden Museum of Art, Greenwood Village, CO – 2009
Colorado Gold, The Wildlife Experience, Parker, CO – 2009
Colorado Art Open, Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO 2009
Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Nomadas Del Arte Exhibition & Sale – 2008, 2009
WAOW (Women Artists of the West) 39th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO – 2009
Foothills Art Center, Glitter in the Garden Gala, Golden, CO – 2008
Society of Animal Artists, Art & the Animal Annual Exhibition – 2007, 2008
Oil Painters of America West/Southwest Mountain Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, South Wind Gallery, Topeka, KS – 2007
Oil Painters of America Annual National Juried Exhibition – 2001, 2003, 2007
Colorado Governor’s Invitational Art Show and Sale, Loveland Museum – 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007
California Visions, Long Beach Museum of Art – 2005
Oil Painters of America West/Southwest Mountain Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA – 2003
VSA (Vision, Strength, and Artistic) Fine Art Auction, William Havu Gallery, Denver, CO – 2002, 2003, 2004
Public Education & Business Coalition, Colorado Artists for Youth Art Sale and Auction, Colorado History Museum – 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Northern Colorado Artist Association 11th National Art Exhibition and Sale – 2002
Awards

Two finalist awards in the animal art category, The Artists Magazine 23rd Annual Art Competition – 2006, 2008, 2009
Jury's Top 50, Salon International Museum of Contemporary Masters – 2006, 2007, 2008
Third place in the animal art category, The Artists Magazine 20th Annual Art Competition – 2003
Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America West/Southwest Mountain Regional Juried Exhibition – 2003
Honorable Mention, Northern Colorado Artist Association 11th National Art Exhibition and Sale – 2002
Colorado State University Creative and Performing Arts Award – 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
National Scholastic Portfolio Competition New York Scholarship – 1987
National Scholastic Arts Award – 1985, 1986, 1987
Memberships

The Society of Animal Artists (Signature Member)
Oil Painters of America (Artist Member)
Publications

Landscape Painting by Mitchell Albala, page 108, 2009
Denver Woman, “Meet Jill Soukup: A Portrait in Duality & Balance,” December/January 2009
The Artist's Magazine, “Competition Spotlight: Jill Soukup,” May 2007
American Art Collector, “Jill Soukup: Drawn to Horses,” March 2007
The Cultural Times, “Jill Soukup: Sharing Her Vision,” January 2007
Art-Talk, “Summer Art Destinations: One Day There,” June/July 2005
Southwest Art magazine, “Urban Patterns,” August 2004
Elightened Woman Magazine, “Women in Art,” March/April 2004
The Artist’s Magazine, “2003 Art Competition Model Artists,” December 2003
Art Revue: Rocky Mountain Fine Art News, “Interview: Jill Soukup at Abend Gallery,” October 2003
Southwest Art magazine, “Painting Colorado,” January 2003
Art Revue: Rocky Mountain Fine Art News, “Talent in Revue,” October 2002
U.S. Art magazine, “Introducing,” May 2002
Southwest Art magazine, “Artists to Watch,” December 2000
Collections

Cherry Creek School District
Honeywell, Inc.
Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep Society
Children’s Hospital (Denver)

Artist’s Statement
From the dishes in my sink to a bustling city scene, I find inspiration everywhere: in the interplay of shapes, values, edges, textures, and colors. Intuition and a sense of composition bring these elements together. Thematically, I find myself returning again and again to the juxtaposition between rigid, mechanical, man-made objects and the fluid, organic aspects of nature—discovering that despite their contrasts, they share and exchange the same tenden