Jennifer Prevost: Holding A Paintbrush To Ottawa’s Soul

Canadian Impressionist artist Jennifer Prevost has made it her life’s goal to capture the raw beauty of the Canadian landscape and local Ottawa landmarks. She shares how Ottawa inspires her, with its charm and nostalgia spurring her to explore her creativity.

A walk along the Rideau Canal in all seasons is captivating, with the backdrop of historical landmarks evoking a sense of timelessness and serenity, symbolic of Ottawa. This romanticism and excitement is what Canadian Impressionist artist Jennifer Prevost seeks to capture through oil on canvas. “I’ve lived in Ottawa my whole life and it is very much a part of me. I feel an obligation and calling to paint the city in a different and unique way because of my special connection to it,” remarks the 37-year-old Westboro resident who enjoys painting from her home studio, her cat by her side.

Growing up in Bells Corners in the west end with her parents and two brothers, Jennifer was inclined towards art from a young age, which led to her pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Queens University, Kingston. It was here that she found her medium in oil painting, which she did her thesis in, although she also studied litho stone printmaking and sculpting as part of her course. Jennifer acknowledges the instrumental role that her professor Carl Heywood played in her choosing to become an artist. “He was so passionate about art that it made me feel like this was a very special calling, and for those that choose to pursue it, the road ahead was challenging, but very much worth it,” she avers.

ABOVE: A field of wildflowers of varying colours form mosaic-like shapes and patterns in Garden Study 8. RIGHT: View of Rideau Canal Locks from the Ottawa River, 2024 depicts a view of the Rideau Canal Locks from the Ottawa River. The leaves are changing colours with the autumn season and the water reflections create abstract patterns.

Following her graduation, she joined Wallack Galleries, where she worked from 2012-2015. “This art gallery was where I got to meet numerous professional artists and learn about their work, exhibitions and how they sell their art. One local artist in particular, Jennifer Dixon, became a mentor and motivator, educating me about the art world, over tea in her studio,” Jennifer reveals.

Jennifer also has a degree in Brand Management from Algonquin College, which she says is very helpful in managing the business side of her website, through which she also sells her paintings.

Life as an Artist

Jennifer’s work primarily revolves around capturing the Canadian landscape, which serves as an ‘everlasting wellspring of inspiration’ to her. This is reflected in her paintings featuring Gatineau Hills, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and British Columbia. However, the focus of most of her artworks is Ottawa – be it landmarks or locales. “As an artist, I’m always looking for inspiration and I think art is most exciting when it’s personal and relatable. I love painting iconic scenes of Ottawa such as Parliament Hill or the Rideau Canal locks. However, I also enjoy painting other lesser-explored parts of Ottawa like quaint, local restaurants or familiar spots that hold a special place in people’s hearts. It’s thrilling to me when I meet somebody who says, ‘oh, I love that little restaurant, I go there all the time.’ Or, ‘you know I walk by this scene every day to work’, or ‘I live in downtown Ottawa, and I’ve never seen it portrayed in this way.’ This is how I hope to make an impact through my work and celebrate this beautiful city,” explains Jennifer.

Her focus currently is on downtown Ottawa, which she believes has undergone a resurgence following the pandemic and needs to be portrayed as an attractive destination. “There’s a specific painting of the ByWard Market showing people enjoying the downtown in the backdrop of a gorgeous sunset. Throughout the painting you can see little narratives that really bring it to life, like a couple walking and people enjoying appetizers on a patio. I feel those scenes are particularly important to represent now, when our downtown is in a transformative state,” she adds.

ABOVE: (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Works from Jennifer’s Nightfall in the Capital Collection: Full Moon Over the ByWard Market; Nightfall Over the Rideau Canal; The Canal at Sunset, Ottawa.

Her latest series ‘Nightfall in the Capital’ captures the fleeting moments between sunset and darkness, with the interplay of light and shadow bringing the city’s streets and landmarks to life, the essence of its charm and beauty portrayed through bold strokes and vibrant hues.

Jennifer also enjoys painting ‘en plein air’, a nod to her Impressionist style, as well as to her artistic mentor, Vincent Van Gogh, whose landscape paintings have highly influenced her own work. She spends a lot of time painting at Maplelawn Garden near her home and is also part of Ottawa Plein Air Painting Group (OPAP), a group of artists who paint outdoors in all seasons at various city locations. “I feel very connected to nature and a key part of my art occurs outdoors,” she shares. This brush with plein air painting inspired her ‘Garden Studies’ series that seeks to uncover the symbolism, solace and stimulation of nature’s ever-changing canvas.

 ABOVE: Jennifer often paints flower studies plein air to support larger works that are completed in the studio.

A Transformational Journey

In 2021, confronted with the loss of her father due to COVID-19, Jennifer found solace in art, plunging into a new series of paintings that she had never done before – portraits. “My father was my mentor, my therapist, my business advisor, my friend, and my biggest supporter. To honour his life and cope with my grief, I painted many portraits of him, capturing the essence of the man who meant so much to me. Through each brushstroke, I worked through a myriad of emotions, channeling my sorrow, love, and memories into my paintings. It felt as though I was honouring my father’s spirit and life with every piece I created,” she says.

ABOVE: Portraits of the artist’s brother, Christopher Prevost and her father, Kenneth Prevost.

Painting her father was a cathartic experience, and her portrait of ‘The Mentor – A Portrait of Kenneth Prevost’ is her favourite painting because of its likeness to him. That eventually led to her painting her entire family, including a self-portrait. The departure from landscapes to portraits was nerve-wracking and challenging, yet immensely rewarding. Her ‘Portraits Series’ is also her most successful to date. “When I posted the portraits on social media, I got an unbelievable response with thousands of people engaging with the posts and sharing their own stories of loss during the pandemic. That is exactly what I aim to do through my paintings  – to spark an emotional connection,” she quips.

After 2021, Jennifer started painting with feverish passion, becoming a high-volume painter, with a new painting up on her website every week. She now spends every waking hour painting, attending art shows, reading about art, writing blogs about art for her website or conducting private viewings.

ABOVE: Jennifer Prevost participates in a variety of outdoor art exhibitions.

Jennifer has had her paintings exhibited at Art in the Park Festival, Wall Candy Noir Ottawa, Glebe Art in the Park, and Art in Strathcona Park Ottawa. Alluding to her preference for outdoor art exhibitions, she says, “Showcasing your art in a park feels very authentic. It is a wonderful opportunity for people to connect with artists one-on-one and purchase art directly from them. Such shows draw hundreds of people, so it’s a great way to network and expand my connections with the community. Building relationships is a critical piece of being an artist and selling your art.”

2022 was a defining year for Jennifer. She won FACES Magazine’s ‘Ottawa’s Best Visual Art Artist’ award, which is very special to her because it was specific to social media, which is a key component of her business. “I connect with different special interest groups on social media platforms and conduct digital marketing campaigns to expand my reach. Social media helps me connect with people and sell my artworks,” she explains.

In the same year, Jennifer also participated in the Annual Art Show at Smith Falls Heritage House Museum and was also part of a female artists showcase called ‘Perspectives of Five Women Artists’ at Galerie ERGA in Montreal. “I think that it’s so important that women prop each other up and that we celebrate the work that we all create together,” she remarks, adding that she hopes to have more collaborations with female artists.

ABOVE: Garden Study 4 is part of a collection of individual flower studies painted in plein air at the Maplelawn Garden in Westboro. RIGHT: Artist Jennifer Prevost photographed with a client at Art in the Park, the outdoor exhibition held annually in the Glebe.

Jennifer is also looking to hold a solo exhibition in the near future and expand her studio. Her next painting series will most likely feature Chinatown, with its unique buildings, signs and colours. However, Ottawa will be the common thread for all her future paintings. “I feel very inspired by the city, and I plan to continue to improve my craft, meet more people and be part of more shows. I have not even scratched the surface of how many different local scenes I can focus on. In essence, my art is a reflection of my deep-seated connection to Ottawa—a celebration of its diversity, vibrancy, and enduring spirit,” she concludes.

You can connect with Jennifer through her website or on her social media handles Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Tiktok 

Header image: Artist Jennifer Prevost appears with her painting Rideau Canal Locks, Ottawa, which showcases the classic scene of the Rideau Canal Locks beneath a vivid sunset.