Jill Garner-Hughes
Artist, interrupted…
Jill Garner-Hughes was raised in Bernardsville, NJ, and graduated from Bernards High School in 1988. She grew up with several family members graced with artistic talent, namely her maternal grandmother, mother, aunt, and paternal grandfather, all of whom inspired her. Jill received the Artist Award at graduation, recognizing her as a class artist, and aspired to further her education in the art world. She started classes at Parsons School of Design in NY and graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1993.
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My Story
Initially, Jill focused on the computer-based graphic design programs at these schools but switched to the more studio-oriented illustration department and fine arts, graduating from RISD with a BFA in Illustration. Already having experience with interior painting and faux finishes, Jill started her own business shortly after graduation, "TUSK." Locally known for all custom interior finishes, including basic painting, faux finishes, murals, trompe l’oeil, and hand-painted furniture. She worked with various interior designers and participated in three decorator show house mansions in Morristown, New Jersey, showcasing her work in several significant spaces, including a primary bathroom and two grand hallways. Additionally, she produced small landscape oil paintings that she exhibited and sold at the Mountain Art Show in Bernardsville, NJ, in 1992, 1994, and 1996.
In 2004, Jill moved to Colorado to be surrounded by the state she fell in love with after visiting in 1992. She met her husband Todd of 15 years, and they reside in Edwards, CO, with their dogs. They have no children, love the outdoors, and enjoy all that comes with their mountain lifestyle, including skiing and snowboarding.
Work came in many different forms as a new and unknown artist. Jill put her paintbrushes aside, starting over to find consistent work, and held various jobs over the years. She found work learning the trade of wood repair and restoration, a new skill set that involved holding a paintbrush and using color and oils to hydrate wood in dry climates. From 2010 to the present, Jill has worked in this industry with numerous contractors, including her husband, doing repairs in remodels and new construction, expanding to antique and furniture repair. In 2018, Leddy Interiors in Princeton, NJ, commissioned Jill to do three large-scale paintings on 84” square canvases. These were exciting and ignited Jill’s creativity.
With the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Jill returned to her studio to experiment with small abstract paintings using cold wax and oil. She successfully sold them via social media platforms and shipped them throughout the country. Today, Jill is finding the opportunity to return to her studio full-time. She has produced small-scale landscape oil paintings based on her photographs of life in the Rocky Mountains. She plans to use her photographic images to inspire her paintings and hopes to work on a large scale again. Jill’s work is available on her website, www.artistjillgarnerhughes.com, Facebook and Instagram, and within local establishments, The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, 714Home, and the Edwards Farmer’s Market, located in the Vail Valley.