Vibrant young artist livens cafe

A colorful new art show at Winot Coffee has more energy than a triple espresso. Add a splash of whimsy to that order and you have a dazzling display of more than 60 paintings and mixed media collages. It's an impressive collection for an artist with only ten years' experience--in life.

Jillian Binder's face is framed by long brown hair that bends at the shoulder of her pink tee-shirt. Her smile beams as brightly as her work when she talks about her creative process, unfettered by the analytical thought that adults are prone to. "I start drawing and see what happens," she said.

Many of her pieces feature women and girls. Unknown faces slip out of her imagination and emerge in a sketchbook or painting. In two of her pieces, women float mythically across the canvas with flowing orange hair, knowing blue eyes and long, multi-colored dresses.

There are animal portraits as well, with polar bears, birds, and Jillian's own house cats portrayed in sizzling yellow and bright blue, splashed with collaged colors and patterns. Their wide, oval eyes seem to communicate some delicious cat secret to one another. They have so much personality on canvas, it's easy to imagine them as stars of a hit cartoon television show.

The exhibit also includes landscapes where Jillian's imagination pours out in watercolors, allowing viewers to insert their own vision into the abstract imagery. Her pieces are as small as 4 x 4 inches, and as large as 16 x 24.

Jillian started "scribbling stuff" when she was two and doesn't have any formal training as an artist. But she did hit the creativity lotto with her grandmother, Sharon Binder, who has a degree in art and taught for years.

Once the fifth-grade homework problems are solved, the violin is put away and aerial dance practice is over, Jillian and her grandmother pull up to the dining room table. "There are stains on the floor and all over the carpets. It's pretty messy," said Jillian. It's not a studio, but it's handy since grandma lives with the family in Boulder. Sharon offers guidance, but mostly they just enjoy sharing the artistic process. "The best part is that we played and created and had time together," said Sharon, who loves watching her granddaughter make art. "A lot of imagination and eagerness. And she's very quick. She can see something and immediately she knows how to draw it. I think a person comes with that."

Jillian's parents are creative in ways other than fine art. They're grateful to have Sharon, who first recognized their daughter's talent and nurtures it. Jillian's work is available for sale but, for now, the emphasis is on having fun and experimenting. It's not clear if art will become her career. This is just Jillian's third show. But she just knows she loves making art and sharing her work with others. "I hope it makes people feel good inside with all the colors," Jillian said.

Check out this caffeine-free boost of artistic energy at Winot Coffee until February 29th.