Tuesday, June 24, 2025
HomeArts & LifeArtist evolves — from Howdy Doody to Mark Rothko

Artist evolves — from Howdy Doody to Mark Rothko

Published on

Toronto-Beaches resident Jeanne Isley is an artist whose work has recently been on display at  the Papermill Gallery at the Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre. Last month, she participated in an exhibit featuring six artists who each submitted 17 pieces of their work to the gallery on Pottery Road.

Isley is a self-taught artist. From a young age, she remembers loving art because of the Howdy Doody show, an early children’s program on NBC Television. She would follow along with her own drawing tools as they produced art on-screen. But it wasn’t until later, in her 30s, that she pursued art at York University.

“You feel the need to do it because you want to do it,” Isley said. “For me it wasn’t a question of going to school for it, it was something I was already doing.”

Her style keeps evolving, from drawing to Japanese prints. She also lived in Scotland for a time, painting and sketching the incredible landscapes. Currently, she primarily sticks to oil paints, and leans away from literal representations.

“Where I’m at now is that I don’t want to paint things that are literal,” Isley said. “I think my heart has evolved past wanting to represent what I see with the eye and what I want to represent now is… inner reflection and meditation.”

She prefers the way she paints now, and she says that the catalyst for that was when she saw the abstract expressionist Mark Rothko’s exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

“He went where I wanted to go,” Isley said. “He was painting beyond the veil…. That’s what I’m interested in doing now.”

Isley calls her collections and what she does “States of Paint.” She says it’s a way of describing her art as a state of consciousness, imagination and a reflection of the work she currently produces. In the future, she wants to work in larger formats and may even open her own exhibit.

“This is the only time in my artistic life that I like my own work,” Isley said. “It’s truer to my nature.”

Learn about Centennial College's School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design

Latest articles

What does it mean to be trans and Canadian?

Canada is widely regarded as one of the safest places in the world to be transgender, but trans people say they still remain vigilant.

Young Canadians have a different view now of driving, instructor says

For generations, getting a driver’s license was seen as a rite of passage, a symbol of independence and adulthood.

York United draw Atletico Ottawa in balanced Ontario Derby

The second CPL game between York United FC and Atletico Ottawa ended in a...

How Canadian celebrities help with brand loyalty and sales at home

For Canadian consumers, it’s not just any famous face that holds power—it’s the ones that feel like home.

More like this

What does it mean to be trans and Canadian?

Canada is widely regarded as one of the safest places in the world to be transgender, but trans people say they still remain vigilant.

This young Toronto woman is turning fashion into freedom

Through her Caribbean-inspired outfits and Toronto thrift finds, this student shows how self-expression can be a powerful reflection of culture.