Born in Houston, Texas, one of the most colorful cities in the U.S., J. Howard works diligently to combine a love for helping others with a love for artistic expression. Recognizing that color is important in every aspect of life – she points out that “there is a great deal more to color than meets the eye. Color communicates.” Classically trained in oils at an incredibly young age, she remained focused on drawing where she developed a more intense love for tricking the eye of what it sees.

J. Howard utilizes the intricate detailing of hyper-realism to present images through organic soft pastel drawings on canvas. She believes that as an artist, she must delve beyond just recognizing the colors present for their inherent qualities but, also incorporate them in such as way that each drawing goes beyond the natural depth of field for a photographic quality. There is an intense desire to ignite emotion and provoke thought as not only an artist but, as a therapist by using art as a therapeutic stimulant for communication to reach a deeper level of healing. Coupled with an even deeper desire for detail, it is obvious in her work that the goal is to reach the viewer through what is represented in her unique style. In 2017, J. Howard was the National Emerging Artist selection; 2018&2019 American Art Awards Winner; 2018 International Illustration Award Winner; 2019 Best of the Best, and was installed in two different art museums in the U.S. In 2020, she was named “One of Twelve Artist to Collect” by Southwest Art Magazine J. Howard continues to be recognized as Best in Show across the U.S. winning this title seven times in 2024-2025. Currently her “Life at Play” collection is on exhibit at Art Museum Tx where she has been reviewed by curators from the Museum of Fine Art Houston and Museum of Fine Art Dallas who attended the opening. Her work has received many more awards in, both, national and international arenas, and publications.

Her belief is that drawing is the most basic and perhaps the most instinctive of all two-dimensional art forms saying that, “Drawing can become a process of articulating an idea and be a complete work within itself. Drawing can only be described as the most unrestrained of all medium and can be the most direct way of bringing what is in my mind on to the canvas. As an artist I can enjoy the sheer spontaneity of drawing. When the pastels glide over a piece of canvas, drawing directly captures my thoughts and records the slightest movement of my hand. My goal is to produce a complete work of art within a sensual and rhythmic pastel drawing possessing all the detail possible in Hyperrealism. Art is often perceived as a way of detachment from reality, a key to unlocking some hidden meaning in the environment. This is not completely true for art genres like Hyperrealism, where the line between reality and art is practically erased. As a Hyperrealist, the goal is to be a purist in the technique. I strive to take the technique further, developing ways to include a narrative, charm, and emotion into a drawing. I never want to leave it void of personality.”

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