Jeannie McGuire paints people the way stories are told—loosely, intuitively, and open to interpretation. A Pittsburgh based artist, she is known for her expressive handling of paint and her ability to suggest character and emotion through gesture, movement, and atmosphere rather than rigid detail. Her work invites viewers to linger, to form their own narratives within each scene.

Her creative process often begins with observation. Using her own photography, found snapshots, and life drawings, Jeannie gathers fragments of everyday experience and allows them to evolve on the surface of the paper or canvas. Influences from literature, film, and real-life encounters subtly weave their way into her compositions, reflecting her sensitivity to human thought and behavior. The result is work that feels both spontaneous and deeply considered—impressionistic in spirit, yet grounded by a recognizable subject.

This balance of freedom and structure is evident in works such as Kenneth, which was selected for the American Watercolor Society’s 144th Gold Medal of Honor exhibition. Over the years, her paintings have been exhibited and awarded internationally, with invitational shows in the United States, China, France, and Italy, and features in numerous national and international art publications.

Jeannie’s artistic voice is also shaped by her early career as a commercial graphic designer and photographer, experiences that continue to inform her sense of composition and visual rhythm. Beyond her own studio practice, she remains deeply committed to the broader artistic community, teaching figurative design watercolor workshops and encouraging other artists to develop their own expressive language. She is a member of the American Watercolor Society, the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, and several collaborative artist groups.

Through paint that moves freely and figures that quietly hold their ground, Jeannie McGuire’s work captures the emotional undercurrents of everyday life—fleeting, complex, and unmistakably human.