B I O G R A P H Y Jessica Pisano’s interest in art started at a young age. Throughout her career, she has been inspired by the natural beauty of her hometown of Martha's Vineyard. She pursued her passion for the arts at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, graduating in with a BFA in painting and photography. Pisano participated in a year-abroad program to study fine art at the Lorenzo de Medici Institue in Florence, Italy. In 2002, she earned an MA in Arts Administration from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.Pisano is an award-winning artist who has had numerous solo and group shows. Her work is widely collected in both private and public collections all over the world. She lives on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, MA.Jessica states, “As an artist, I have always been inspired by nature — it is my muse. Birds and trees are the main characters in my paintings. I am both interested and intrigued by the comparison and contrast of these subjects, as well as their individual symbolism. Whereas birds embody a sense of freedom and transcendence — the link between heaven and earth — trees epitomize strength, wisdom, stability and growth — the noble character with roots firmly planted in the earth while its branches sway up into the sky, reaching out in polar opposite directions. Together, these varying symbolisms each create balance: the yin to the yang. This balance found in nature is what I am interested in exploring and portraying in my work — my paintings are not intended to convey a specific meaning or message, but rather to evoke an emotion from the viewer. How the viewer interprets it is left to his or her own response.Jessica’s work is both abstract and representational. She uses the traditional indirect painting techniques of the Old Masters by applying oil paint in many translucent layers giving the painting a detailed and highly rendered appearance. As a contrast, she also uses contemporary techniques in which paint is loosely applied in an experimental and intuitive manner. The combination of these techniques from both the past and the present is interesting, as it creates a unique juxtaposition of styles.