Jacquelyn Peterlin, known as Jacqs, is a self-taught freehand painter born in Chicago and now based in Phoenix. What began on her bedroom floor as an instinctive outlet for expression evolved into a distinct visual language rooted in contemporary abstract expressionism and illustrative linework. Working primarily through line work, her work balances bold color, confident lines, and organic movement to create compositions that feel both controlled and alive. As Jack White said, “Great things start in little rooms,” and that truth has shaped every stage of her creative life.

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While her early work explored surrealism, abstract expressionism, and urban-influenced visual studies, those foundations shaped the vocabulary that defines her work today. Drawing inspiration from the energy of the city, alongside music, film, and dream imagery, each piece develops intuitively through movement, and imagination rather than rigid structure. The result is work that feels direct, grounded, and visually accessible while maintaining depth and presence.

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Central to her practice is a deep appreciation for simplicity. She believes life is not meant to be overcomplicated, and that perfection often removes the warmth and humanity from what we create and experience. Through minimal yet intentional linework and bold, confident color, her work explores the idea that clarity, playfulness, and honesty can exist without excess. The goal is not perfection  but presence, balance, and approachability.