Jill Brooks

Jill Brooks is a Canadian watercolourist based in Manitoba. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Fine Arts and subsequently earned a degree in Art Therapy from the University of Western Ontario. For many years, Brooks painted large-scale, light-splashed domestic landscapes in oils, establishing her distinctive approach to capturing light and atmosphere.

In 1995, Brooks transitioned to watercolour painting, bringing with her a love of strong, rich color developed during her years working in oils. Her fondness for light and color, combined with her passion for gardening and flowers, has resulted in watercolours that are both representational and metaphorical in content. She finds inspiration in moments of beauty encountered in daily life, whether creating a meal or working in the garden.

Flowers hold particular attraction for Brooks, as throughout their life cycle they assume postures that can mirror those of people, expressing characteristics of both strength and fragility. She uses the garden context as a metaphor for the Garden of Eden, containing elements of good and evil, life and death. In her preoccupation with light and color, Brooks works to capture a luminosity unique to the watercolour medium.