About the Artist
Jessica Hand Bertsch works as an artist and therapist in New Orleans. For the past 13 years, she has studied drawing live models with Classical Realist instruction from Carol Peebles at the Blue Easel Club. Jessica has also attended classes at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts and has studied with amazingly talented teachers over the years. For much of this time studying, Jessica focused on practicing the discipline and technique of classical realism but has recently begun to explore a more imaginative side of drawing when she began to learn about the world of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. Jessica is a certified IFS therapist and practices the process of IFS insight work through creating pieces of art.
Shows and awards
New Orleans Art Association Juried National Art Show 2024
My artwork “How Can I Tell You” received a Merit Award for the New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) 2024 Juried National Art Show
Floor 13 “EmpowHER” Art Exhibition 2025
The Degas House Art Festival 2025
Artist Statement
As an artist and a therapist, I work at the intersection of drawing what I see in nature and also what I experience in the work of psychological healing. Merging the discipline of classical style with a formless flow of exploring the imagination is a deeply satisfying dance that drives my spirit. I spend hours drawing to solve puzzles that I sit with for hours in my head. Drawing allows me to externalize and relate to the parts of me that are loud and dominating while also bringing forward the parts whispering in the shadows. Drawing in this way allows me to create harmony in my system and create something beautiful to document the discovery. I share this work in hopes of stirring something in others and to connect to the collective waking up. My intention with my artwork is to express and communicate the healing - personal and collective - that is possible through dedicated inner work and to inspire others to follow their own creative vision.