Jill Soukup, Bones and Trace No. 2, oil on canvas, 24 x 72”
Jill Soukup
Jill Soukup’s impressive paintings of horses and Western ranch life are a beautiful mix of abstract textures, calming palettes, and painterly brushwork
Colorado artist Jill Soukup’s oil paintings of horses and Western ranch life are known for their expressive brushwork, appealing palettes, rich textures, and a masterful hand at rendering horses in perfect proportion, composition, and movement.
But a closer look at Soukup’s work reveals something quite extraordinary. Instead of color, value, and line being used simply to form an image, her paintings are comprised of large areas of painterly, abstract textures — filled with contrasting hues and values and energized with movement — and somehow these swaths of abstraction unite to form beautiful, representative art.
Jill Soukup, Dark and Light Horses No. 5, 2019, oil on canvas, 17.5 x 17.25”
Base layers of contrasting colors enliven the hues painted over them, with brushstrokes moving in varying directions to create a powerful sense of action and expression.
Some of Soukup’s pieces are very large-scale to give viewers a sense of the presence of the animal represented, a feeling of “bringing a real horse into your living room,” as Soukup puts it.
Jill Soukup, Left: Bones and Trace, 2019, oil on canvas, 40 x 30”. Right: Trickling Faces, 2019, oil on canvas, 21.5 x 29.5”
Growing up in Colorado, Soukup has loved and made drawing horses since she was a child. Her career always had an artistic bent. From starting a pet portrait business as a teenager, to earning a bachelors of fine art from Colorado State University, to working full-time as a designer and illustrator, Soukup has a long list of artistic awards and achievements that act as a foundation to her work today.
In a recent interview with Art and Color 365, Soukup provided a more in-depth view of what she is trying to achieve in her work.
Jill Soukup, RoundAbout, 2019, oil on canvas, 23.75 x 31.5”
You’ve spoken of contrast as an important element of your paintings. What are you trying to convey through the use of contrast in your work?
Contrast is really at the core of everything that I produce. It's my overall pursuit in all aspects of my art. For me, contrast is what creates beauty and truth and all of my paintings focus on that component. Whether my subject matter is wranglers, or Western life, or buildings, those are just vehicles for this broader exploration of contrasts.
How did you choose Western imagery for your art?
I fell into the Western genre, sort of by accident. A friend invited me to visit one of The Ranchlands’ ranches in 2003 when they were hosting an artists’ gathering to draw and paint the horses and other elements of the property. (The Ranchlands is a family ranching business that owns and manages livestock operations in the American West.) I’ve been going to their Zapata and Chico Basin ranches ever since to experience, observe and photograph the people and animals and to teach annual art workshops.
Jill Soukup, Marsh March, oil on canvas, 46 x 54”
What about horses inspires you?
I’ve always loved horses, what eight-year-old girl doesn’t really? That’s always been an interest for me. And horses have a balance, proportion, and spirit that draws me in unlike any other species.
The textures in your work are almost abstract. Is that intentional?
Yes, definitely. It’s very intentional and an important part of my work. I'm always pushing it and wanting it to evolve, I’m always looking for ways to do something different with the paint. It’s a very playful part of the artwork.
You take art classes in mediums other than oil painting. How does that affect your work?
Every time I take a class or play around with something completely different than oils, I find that the next day when I go into the studio that impression of working with another media always transfers to my oil painting somehow. I always find something that’s deeper and more meaningful in becoming a better artist. So that‘s a big part of exploring new textures in my work. From sculpting, to printmaking, to gouache — it all influences my work.
Jill Soukup, Butters, oil on canvas, 24 x 32”
What do you consider the fundamentals needed for successful art?
Drawing skills are the most important to have because they teach you how to see as an artist. The next is structure, which really comes down to value, dark and light pattern.
What do you focus on most in your teaching?
I focus heavily on composition and drawing – those are key to everything. In my own work, composition almost always starts with the dark and light pattern in its simplest form. If you can begin there, it’s like the frame of the house, so to speak, and you can build on it as long as you don’t lose the initial dark/light balance. Understanding that balance sets the stage for a successful piece.
Jill Soukup, Double Back, oil on canvas, 24 x 30”
Do you do critiques in your classes?
I do one-on-one critiques in my classes because constructive criticism is the most valuable feedback an artist can receive. Pointing out strengths is important, but discovering our weaknesses is imperative because it shows where we can improve and move forward. Mistakes and weaknesses in art equal opportunity. Personally, I believe that receiving criticism is the only way to get better. For me it’s not a negative thing at all, it’s the only way to grow.
You can discover more about Soukup and her work on her website, www.jillsoukup.com or on Instagram, @jillsoukup. She is represented by Gallery 1261 in Denver, Oh Be Joyful Gallery in Crested Butte, Colorado, Nedra Matteucci Galleries in Sante Fe, Astoria Fine Art in Jackson, Wyoming, and Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington, Kentucky.
