In 1980, after graduating with a BFA from Sweet Briar College , her father gave her another pivotal gift: a plane ticket to France. She intended to stay for only six weeks to attend the Leo Marchutz School of Fine Arts in . On her second day in France, she met a young Frenchman named Sergio Ruffato who spoke no English; they have now been together for over 40 years. Art in the Footsteps of Masters
Born and raised in , Jill's early life was marked by the loss of her mother when she was only eight years old. Art became a way to fill that void. On her 16th birthday, her father gave her a book of Paul Cézanne’s paintings; at the time, she was disappointed because she had hoped for a car. However, that book eventually sparked a lifelong fascination with the French master's work. The Journey to Provence jill steinhaus artist
: She has been a featured guest at events such as "Friendraisers" hosted by the Cummer-Nassau in partnership with the Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture . In 1980, after graduating with a BFA from
This fragmentation is not accidental. uses the fractured form to represent the fractured attention span of the 21st century. She paints the feeling of being pulled in ten directions at once. Art in the Footsteps of Masters Born and
Beyond traditional canvas painting, Steenhuis has expanded her reach through film and literature: "Painting the Invisible":