Where to
begin? It’s not easy to write about oneself... at least not for
me.
My name is Jack Henslee and I draw pretty ladies. I was born and raised in Fort
Worth, Texas. Except for a ten year sojourn in Las Vegas I have lived my entire life
here in *Cowtown*, as we affectionately call it.
As corny as it may sound.... I have been drawing (literally) since I was old enough to
hold a pencil. Though I will admit I didn’t start out with pretty ladies.
In college I studied architecture instead of art... believing it not possible to earn
a living as an artist. The precision and discipline acquired there has served me
well in my almost 30 year career as a illustrator and graphic designer. I
am largely self-taught, spending a lifetime developing my talent and my craft. I
take great pride in what I create and want to share it with everyone. Like all
artists, I want all those who see my art to love what I do, but accept that all will
not. You can’t let that obvious fact get in the way of the *art making*
process... you must draw and paint to please yourself and hope that will be good
enough.
For me, art is not just something that I do... it is *me*. Mind, body and
soul. I believe the same is true for any real artist, those of us who have no choice
but to create. Although I can’t imagine myself as anything but an artist, there
have been countless times I have considered my talent much more a curse than a
blessing.
Like many talented people I have known, I wasted a lot of years doing (with my art) what
other people thought I ought to do. In the late 60’s and early 70’s I
painted Indians and wildlife. Even though I had, and still have a genuine affection
for both, it just wasn’t *me* and so in 1973 I returned to my commercial
work.
In 1987 I moved to Las Vegas where my art and my career took a giant step forward. I
was very lucky and was immediately inundated with work. It challenged my creativity
constantly and looking back, even I am amazed how much I produced in the 9 years that
followed. But the pace took its toll and I began to burn out... becoming
disenchanted with the repetitive nature of working for the hotels and casinos.
It was about this time that I decided to concentrate on what *I* wanted to do.... and
began seriously to devote more and more of my time to producing my images of *Painted
Ladies*. The results of my efforts are on display here... in my virtual gallery that
I happily share with the world.
If everyone who visits here can find just one piece they really enjoy, then I will be
happy.
Jack Henslee
May 2001
To contact the artist, email him at:
jack@paintedlady.com
© Jack Henslee
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Gallery of Friends and Family
