My name is Jen Burgess (she/her) and I am an artist inspired by nature here in the Pacific Northwest.
I reside on the traditional unceded territories of the Lekwungen, Esquimalt, and Songhees First Nations, what we now call Victoria on beautiful Vancouver Island, Canada.
I paint to connect with nature, to experience mindfulness and flow, to use my skills to share a message of conservation and stewardship, to serve others by preserving their precious memories, and to bring beauty and peace into people’s living spaces.
I have been a working artist, freelancing, teaching and mentoring in BC since 2015.
(This page is under construction, please come back soon!)
CV
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2015 - Graduate Certificate in Scientific Illustration - California State University Monterey Bay -
2014 - California Naturalist Training - University of California Santa Cruz
2011 - Certificate in Fine Art Techniques - Emily Carr University of Art and Design
2005 - Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate - Vancouver Community College
2005 - Bachelor of Science, Geography - University of Victoria
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2023 - Present: Opus Art Supplies Victoria - Assistant Manager/ Coordinator
2022: Opus Art Supplies Victoria - Customer Experience Leader
2021 - Present: isoline studios - Freelance Mentor: Art Instructor, Facilitator, Consultant, Coach
2019 - 2021: The Bateman Foundation & Gallery of Nature - Nature Sketch Instructor
2015 - 2020: isoline studios - Freelance Scientific Illustrator
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June-July 2019 - Emily Carr House, Victoria BC
November 2018 - The Whiteley Center, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington State
June 2016 - Self Directed, Haida Gwaii, BC
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2018 - Works in Progress - Creative Coworkers, Vancouver BC
2016 - On a Tangent Tear - Emily Carr House, Victoria BC
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2019 - Island Illustrators - 2019 Exhibition
2019 - Re-Composition (Juried) Polyfield Gallery, Science World, Vancouver BC
2015 - CSUMB Science Illustration Certificate Program Graduate Show, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Pacific Grove California
2014 - California Wildlife Art Show - (Juried) Coastside Land Trust, Halfmoon Bay California
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Victoria Flora art cards can be found at The Market Garden, West Vic
Cyanotypes and selected artwork - Curated House & Home, Market Square
Art Prints in the gift shop at Carr House, James Bay
August 2024 Art & Music in the Gardens, Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, Victoria BC
July 2024 Gorge on Art Canada Day Picnic, Victoria BC
June 2024 - Fernwood Art Stroll, Victoria BC
August 2022 - Art & Music in the Gardens - Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, Victoria BC
May 2022 - TD Moss Street Paint-in, Victoria BC
September 2021 -Flourish Pop-up Market, Victoria BC
Jen Burgess b. 1980
Sea Urchin test, Haida Gwaii, 2016
When I am not working on my business or creating art in the studio I am outside in nature as much as I can. I am a contradiction in that I am also quite a homebody with a fondness for tea and books. I am a hobby naturalist and avid nature journalist; as happy reading about or drawing nature as being in it. It’s a goal of mine to once again grow my own food (I presently do not have a garden); it appears that how much I love to cook seems to be directly proportional to the ease of access to fresh herbs and veggies outside the door. I also love to partner dance wherever there might be some live swing music, and aspire to a global trip painting and dancing wherever I go.
As evidenced by the artworks in my portfolio I have a love of the ocean and marine life, but I am NOT a scuba diver—I have pressure issues with my ears. However I am compelled to live near the ocean, visit aquaria to draw from life when I can, and surprisingly, in spite of my usual aversion to cold, I do enjoy ocean swims in the summer and a polar bear dip in the off-seasons!