Thursday, October 30, 2025
I was a former art student of Jackie’s when she had her studio above the East Side Post Office. I wanted to stop in just to say what a huge influence she was on me—and, I’m sure, on many others who were interested in art. I still have my original art pads from those days, including the very first drawing I ever did in my first class with Jackie.
Many of those drawings were of items from the gallery: still lifes of flowers and branches, a posable artist’s mannequin, a ceramic Elvis statue... I remember loving to draw birthday cards for my family, and Jackie once helped me with the likeness of Clint Eastwood on one of them. It said something like, “Go ahead, have a great birthday,” instead of “Go ahead, make my day.” I was 10.
I still remember the excitement I felt each Wednesday, running up those steps, improving my drawing skills, and eventually learning to paint. It was a place where my creativity and vision could flourish under Jackie’s gentle teaching and guidance. I always felt empowered to see my work through without it being reshaped into something the teacher wanted. Jackie was an excellent teacher and a talented artist.
Her gallery featured incredible works of art, as you’d expect. Thinking back now, I truly hope those pieces still exist and live on someone’s wall—they deserve to be seen. I vividly remember a painting of the Marion County Courthouse and another of the old East Fairmont High School. I believe she sold prints of that one. The subject and quality of these works warrant a place in a permanent collection somewhere meaningful to Marion County.
I’ve always had immense gratitude for her impact on my life. I continued my artistic journey through high school and college, and to this day, I work in strategy and design for digital experiences, now living in Seattle, WA. I have thought often of Jackie over the years.
Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up.” People like Jackie give kids a fighting chance to stay curious, creative, and artistic into adulthood. I thank her deeply for the impact she had on my life.
My sincere and heartfelt condolences to her family and to anyone fortunate enough to have been influenced by her, as I was.
