Jill Kolker has been creating mixed media paintings and collages out of her home and studio on the north side of Chicago for many years. She has had success selling her work to friends and colleagues and has only just begun showing publicly. She believes that art is a powerful conduit for sharing our thoughts and ideas. Making art is an unpredictable source for stirring the imagination and has the possibility to change one’s thoughts and open up the mind to new perspectives. Her work uses texture, color and images to create instill a sense of wonder in the viewer. She works with acrylic paint, molding paste, and imagery on wood panels. Jill briefly studied graphic design at Drake University. She then took art classes in the community for 10 years to enhance her technique and find her personal style. After that she began working at the Highland Park Art Center where she deepened her knowledge of texture and the many other techniques she uses in her current work.