The Heart Behind the Brush: The Artwork of Jean Fugate-Besalke

Examples of Jean Fugate-Besalke's beautiful watercolor artwork, detailed with line work and vibrant with colors.

Early Beginnings and a Creative Spark

Jean Fugate-Besalke’s journey as an artist began at just ten years old, when she spotted her first acrylic paint set in a local paint store. Art stores were rare back then, but that discovery changed everything. Her mother told her she’d have to save up for it herself, so she did—fifty cents a week until she could finally buy the set for five dollars.

When she brought it home, she realized she had no brushes and no canvases. So, she made do with what she had. Her mother loved collecting smooth river rocks, and those soon became Jean’s first canvases. She began painting small designs on the stones, launching what would become a lifelong love affair with creativity, color, and craftsmanship.

Even as a child, Jean learned to work with limited tools, transforming simple materials into something joyful. That hands-on ingenuity would become a defining thread through all stages of her art.

Discovering Her Artistic Voice

As Jean grew older, she continued exploring different creative outlets. In high school, she was one of the first girls in her small town allowed to take woodshop class—an unusual opportunity at the time. She immediately fell in love with working with her hands.

That tactile joy carried through her life. Jean and her mother began selling crafts at local festivals, where Jean’s hand-painted pumpkins became an unexpected hit. Her first batch sold out before she even got them set up on the table. “I thought it was the coolest thing,” she recalled. “I could actually make money… to buy more paint.”

From there, art and craft remained an inseparable cycle: creating for joy, selling to sustain the creativity, and always finding new materials and techniques to explore.

Falling in Love with Watercolor

The Challenge and Beauty of the Medium

Eventually, Jean began experimenting with watercolor—a medium that fascinated and frustrated her in equal measure. Having worked with acrylics for years, she was used to painting from dark to light. Watercolor required the opposite approach, forcing a complete “brain switch.”

After early struggles, she set it aside for a while. But when she later returned to watercolor, it marked a powerful turning point in both her art and her life.

Art as Healing and Transformation

Jean’s style evolved dramatically after a particularly difficult year in which she endured profound personal losses. During this period, painting became her lifeline—the process became deeply therapeutic, helping her through grief and change. What had once been whimsical and cartoon-like transformed into more expressive, refined works with depth and emotion. She describes art as her escape, a way to step into the world of her subjects and leave behind the weight of reality, if only for a little while.

“Art takes me to a different place,” Jean explained. “When I’m painting, I’m not really here—I’m in the field with the sunflowers, or with that dog I’m painting.”

Her art became not just an outlet but a source of emotional recovery and peace.

Creating Happiness: Bold Lines and Bright Color

Jean’s paintings are instantly recognizable for their vivid color palettes and distinctive line work. She often combines watercolor with ink—sometimes using fountain pens or dip pens to add fine details and texture after her watercolor layers dry.

She describes her process as “watercolor first, then lines.” The initial washes may look loose or blotchy, but once she adds ink, the forms spring to life. This balance of structure and spontaneity defines her unique style.

“I love brightness,” she said. “To me, brightness makes happiness. I’ve had people tell me my paintings make them smile—and that makes me happy, too.”

Experimenting Everyday: Practice Makes Perfect

Jean paints nearly every day, even if it’s just for fifteen or thirty minutes. Whether it’s a quick sketch or a small watercolor canvas, the act of painting keeps her grounded and connected to her creativity.

She’s ventured into painting watercolor on canvas—a completely different challenge. Unlike paper, watercolor on canvas doesn’t absorb or bloom the same way, forcing her to adapt her technique once again. But for Jean, experimentation is part of the fun.

Painting with Heart: Animals, Emotion, and Meaning

The Windows to the Soul

Jean’s favorite subjects are animals. She rarely paints people, joking that her attempts “look like aliens,” but she feels a deep connection to animals—especially through their eyes.

“I believe the eyes are the soul of the animal,” she said. “You can paint a dog purple or blue, but if you get the eyes right, people will say, ‘That’s my dog.’”

Sometimes, painting a single eye can take her up to ten hours. That precision and empathy give her animal portraits their distinctive emotional depth.

Hidden Hearts and Unexpected Magic

Another signature of Jean’s work is the presence of hearts—sometimes intentional, sometimes appearing by surprise in her watercolor patterns. One memorable piece featured a rescue dog painted for a grieving owner; when the finished work dried, tiny hearts appeared throughout the fur and background.

“I always say I paint from my heart,” Jean said. “When I paint a heart into a painting, I feel like everyone gets a little piece of my heart with it.”

Breaking the Rules: A Style All Her Own

Jean doesn’t conform to traditional watercolor “rules.” Instead, she paints intuitively, embracing bold colors and unconventional subjects.

“My artwork is different—it’s not realistic, and it’s not for everyone,” she said. “I don’t follow the rules. I paint the way I want to paint. I just have my way of doing it.”

She calls her sunflower pieces “cosmic sunflowers” because their centers are more abstract and colorful than real sunflowers—symbolizing her belief that art should express feeling, not just form.

Finding Inspiration: Artistic Influences and Nature

Jean finds inspiration in nature, color, and the rural landscapes of her Missouri childhood. She loves old farmhouses, open fields, and the peaceful simplicity of outdoor life.

She also draws inspiration from artists like Joyce Hicks, Carol Carter, and especially Fritzi Morrison, a local watercolorist known for her expressive style. Like them, Jean values individuality and emotion over technical perfection.

She often paints with Da Vinci and Holbein watercolors and has even experimented with handmade paints from small makers. In the future, she hopes to start making her own paints—another hands-on way to connect with her medium.

Sharing Art with the Community

Making Art Accessible to Everyone

Jean is a proud member of Art Gallery 310. She appreciates that the collective fosters an inclusive and supportive atmosphere for local artists like her. Unlike some galleries that focus on high-priced pieces, Gallery 310 emphasizes accessibility and community. 

“I like to make art that’s affordable for everyone,” she said. “Maybe someone can’t afford a big $150 piece right now, but they can take home something smaller that still makes them smile.”

Her philosophy reflects a genuine desire to spread joy through creativity—whether it’s a full-sized painting, a greeting card, or a simple sticker.

Expanding Her Reach Through Cards

In addition to her original paintings, Jean hand-paints greeting cards and sells them locally. She hopes to begin offering printed versions as well, making her artwork even more accessible.

“I like to have a little bit of art in everybody’s house,” she said, reflecting the inclusive spirit that defines both her art and her personality.

A Lifelong Journey of Joy and Color

Jean Fugate-Besalke’s art is more than paint and canvas—it’s a story of perseverance, healing, and joy. From a little girl painting on river rocks to a gallery-featured watercolorist known for her bright hues and heartfelt imagery, her journey shows how art can grow alongside life itself.

Her work reminds viewers that creativity doesn’t require perfection—it requires heart. Whether she’s painting animals with soulful eyes, cosmic sunflowers that seem to glow, or whimsical landscapes inspired by the natural world around her, Jean’s watercolor world shines with color, warmth, and authenticity.

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Discover Jean Fugate-Besalke’s Artwork

If you’d like to experience Jean Fugate-Besalke’s vibrant watercolor and ink artwork in person, visit Art Gallery 310 in Hannibal, Missouri. Her pieces capture warmth, whimsy, and heart—each one inviting you to pause and smile.

To follow Jean’s creative journey, connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/jean.ann.fugate.besalke and on Instagram at @jabesalke.

For inquiries, commissions, or to learn more about her available work, you can reach Jean directly at jeanfugatebes@gmail.com or call (573) 808-4149.

Stop by the gallery soon to see her latest pieces—each one a beautiful reminder that art is meant to be joyful, personal, and shared.