J.R. Hess is an artist working and studying in the great Southwest. There, he finds inspiration from the wildlife and people that surround him. 

After graduating from The Chicago Institute of Art and The Art Center of Albuquerque, NM, J.R set out for his next adventure. This led him to a remote island in the Pacific Northwest. There, his love for wildlife and the indigenous people of the area was realized and came to fruition through his art.

Why colored pencil you ask? J.R.'s response to that would be … “Because it was all I could afford!!" All joking aside, he would then enthusiastically tell you how he loves illustrating in the vibrancy of Prismacolor Pencil and the enjoyment he gets out of bringing an often overlooked medium into a more professional light. Being a young artist with little money, J.R. couldn’t afford many of the other mediums and their tools, though he could however always find paper and something to draw with. From there his love for drawing began. 

Living meagerly across the island from teepees to school busses, yurts to cabins, unorthodox living spaces helped fuel his creativity. Drawing by daylight and lantern by night, he gained inspiration from the people and animals he encountered. With his recent works, J.R. attempts to bring awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and cultural preservation.