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My Story
I was born in 1971 in the Pacific Northwest. My mom sold her artwork at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, where I ran errands for the artists, sometimes getting art lessons in return. Other days were spent with my dad at his plumbing contractor sites where I explored and built sculptures with scrap materials.
I studied Fine Art at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR (1989-91), then Psychology at the University of Oregon. (Bachelor in Psychology, 1997). I am fascinated with art and science. Since graduating I have taken Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (UofW), and painting and drawing workshops and classes.
At the University of Washington, I worked as a Medical Illustrator and Animator, and later at Microsoft as a Media Developer.
In 2007 my son was born I had the wonderful opportunity to leave Microsoft and develop my painting career while spending time with my son. I began showing my work in galleries in Washington and California and painting every available minute with passion and focus.
In 2012 my family moved to South Dakota, where I now paint the people, land, and animals of the Midwest. I am fascinated with the invisible, but a very tangible connection between people who care for each other, and between people and the land they grew up on.
Jessie Rasche is a South Dakota based artist, originally from Seattle, WA. Her paintings and portraits hang in homes from Florida to Washington and every region in between, as well as Canada and Ireland.
South Dakota has purchased Jessie’s work for the public collection in Pierre, and Sanford hospital has purchased her work for the Edith Sanford Breast Center and the Memorial Garden in Sioux Falls, SD. She is represented by the South Dakota Art Museum shop, SouthWind Gallery in Topeka, KS, and Art Resources Gallery in Minneapolis, MN.
Information for curators and publishers
How to become a collector
If you love a painting listed on this site, you can purchase it through the gallery listed on that painting’s page – or by clicking the Add to Cart button. If you would like to commission a portrait or other painting, just email, call or text me and we can talk about your project.
Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.
Memberships
Member of the Institute of Equine Artists, the South Dakota Artists Alliance, a former member of the American Impressionist Society and the Oil Painters of America.
Workshops
I teach occasional workshops out of my studio, or in other locations by invitation. Sign up for the newsletter to be notified about workshops.
Influences
People I have studied under
Gordon Gilkey, PNCA (art school) teacher, and advisor
At PNCA the (now) late printmaker Gordon Gilkey was my mentor and was incredibly inspiring, and I adored him and his passion for prints. He had a great collection of prints which I believe he donated to the Portland Art Museum. He let me hold an original Picasso print on one of our adventures perusing his collection. He handed the print to me and at one glance I knew what it was… I remember the sensation of holding something so special.
Kenneth O’Connell, University of Oregon, Animation teacher and advisor
Ken taught me about animation, but most importantly told me to work at my art every day.
LaNell Arndt, OPA critique
Stan Miller, watercolor workshop
Stan Miller is an amazing watercolor artist. He taught us about the difference between composition for selling artwork and composition for competitions. And he taught great techniques for getting good values and handling the medium.
Anna Youngers, portrait drawing workshop
Anna Youngers charcoal portrait drawing workshop focused on accurate drawing and values. She allowed us to really slow down and spend 3 sessions on the same drawing, which I found very liberating.