"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." Psalm 36:9
Seeing depends on light. As an artist everything I see God created, from nature to the emotions of man. 
Since I am made in His likeness I have inherited a portion of that creativeness as my own. I think an artist is one who intentionally and purposefully creates from the heart something perceptive, something imaginative, something beautiful to make a difference in the world.
I want my paintings to be interesting, to make you smile, to wonder why that boy has that look on his face or to just thank God for this wonderful beautiful life. Portraiture and figures are my favorite things to paint, although I'm branching out with abstracts and landscapes.
My paternal grandmother taught me how to sew at the age of seven. That launched me into a lifelong pursuit of creative craftsmanship and problem solving. Oil painting began January 2004. Born inside the DC Beltway, raised in San Diego as the second of eight siblings, I raised my four kids, including homeschooling them, on 40 acres in Washington State and later worked as a missionary out of El Paso, TX.
"Green Tina", my first ever oil painting was accepted into a national show in 2004 through the Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, NC. I am currently a member of the Portrait Society of America. I've had the privilege of taking workshops from portrait artist Luana Luconi Winner and George Thompson, but I am mostly self-taught. I have an AAS in Media Production from El Paso Community College and entered the world of TV News as an intern. For 7 of the 10 years of my TV career I created and operated electronic graphics for live news.
I sign my paintings as "jmps". The short explanation is, these are my initials: Jean Marie Piszkin (maiden name-Polish/Russian descent) Smith. JMPS fine art is in collections in the United States and Iceland. I currently live in Winston-Salem, NC in a unique metal house (google: Lustron).
Exhibitions:
- Winter Miniatures Show, Jan 2010, Gallery of the Arts Downtown Winston-Salem, NC "Pixie" tied for People's Choice Best in Show
- Dixie Classic Fair, October 2-11, 2009. Two Blue ribbons, One Red ribbon
- Perspectives, January 16 - May 18, 2007 Davidson County Community College, Lexington, NC 13 pieces showing
- Blurring Racial Barriers, Sept. 17 - Oct. 28, 2006 Delta Fine Arts, Winston-Salem, NC "Fuerza Y Virtud"
- Primary Colors, March 2006 AAWS, Winston-Salem, NC "Ivan"
- Associate Member Show, June 1005 AAWS, Winston-Salem, NC "Girls In Pink" and "Dayspring"
- Dimensions 2005 (National Show) April-May 2005 AAWS, Winston-Salem, NC "Self at 50" & "Salem Leaving the Desert"
- State Of The Art (National Show) Fall 2004 AAWS, Winston-Salem, NC "Green Tina"