Outside the Line

Line Studio presents: Wanderings, Paintings by Jessica Fallis

Connecticut Artist Jessica Fallis Showcases Paintings Inspired by Travel and Poetry March 13-March 22, 2026

Connecticut-based artist and educator Jessica Fallis announces her upcoming solo exhibition at Line Studio. Known for her evocative landscapes and exploration of themes such as light, color, and the cycles of nature, Fallis draws inspiration from poetry and her extensive travels, which have taken her to places in Maine, California, Alaska, and Poland. Her pieces reflect a deep engagement with the natural world and the transformative power of creative exploration.

Jessica Fallis holds a BFA in Painting and a BA in English from the University of Hartford, as well as an MA in English from the University of Vermont. She has exhibited her work in galleries throughout New England, New York, and the East Coast, and currently serves as a full-time high school art teacher in West Hartford, Connecticut. This exhibition represents Fallis’s work from the last 10 years of her painting practice.

The exhibition will take place at Line Studio, located at 534 Storrs Road, Mansfield Center, CT. Visitors can view Fallis’s latest works from March 13 - 22, 2026. An opening reception scheduled for Friday, March 13th from 5–8pm, is open to the public and provides a unique opportunity to engage with the artist and learn about her creative journey. Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10am–2pm, and Tuesday through Thursday from 2–5pm.

Steven Normand is a 72-year-old artist who resides in South Windsor, Connecticut. He graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from the University of Connecticut in 1975 and worked professionally for more than three decades in Connecticut’s Aerospace industry. Retiring in 2013, he had more time to pursue his passion for the visual arts.

Steven's interest in art began at a young age, inspired by his grandmother in Vermont. She encouraged him to experiment with still life drawing and gifted him a collection of pastels, in lieu of crayons, fostering his creativity. This early exposure was complemented by the influence of his aunt; a commercially successful oil painter and watercolorist whose landscapes and portraits deeply inspired him throughout his youth and into adulthood.

Largely self-taught, Steven began painting with acrylic in the early 1980s. After the birth of his son and daughter, he took a hiatus from painting. In 2006 he intermittently resumed creating art and since 2020, he has broadened his artistic repertoire to include graphite and colored pencils, pen and ink, and watercolors. Landscapes and cityscapes remain his favorite subjects, continuing to captivate his artistic focus.

Steven's wife, Linda, an artist herself, has been his greatest supporter. At her suggestion, they enrolled together in an art class in 2023, where they met instructor Jennifer Jeffreys. This experience marked a significant turning point in Steven’s artistic journey. Jennifer’s mentorship gave him the confidence to explore new techniques and expand his skills, particularly in graphite pencil drawing, which led to his first portrait works.

Watercolor has become Steven’s preferred medium. He finds painting with watercolors to be both therapeutic and personally rewarding. Steven’s work has been shown at the Piedmont Gallery in Somers, CT and took 2nd place at the Manchester Art Association’s show this fall.