Sharing a lasting reflection of Rocky Mountain wonder

Printmaker and art educator Jillian Roper spent her summer as a Rocky Mountain National Park Artist-in-Residence. She first learned about the Artist-in-Residence program through her involvement with Redwood National and State Parks, where she participated in the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program. 

“That experience sparked my interest in how national parks use art to deepen public engagement and storytelling. When I discovered that Rocky Mountain National Park offered an Artist-in-Residence program, I knew I had to apply,” shared Roper in an interview with the Estes Valley Voice.

The residency is a partnership between Rocky Mountain National Park and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Each artist spends a two-week residency in the program, and the Park provides housing at the historic William Allen White cabin and supports artist outreach programs. 

Roper’s detailed proposal outlining project ideas and plans for community engagement won her a spot among seven artists chosen, with nearly 400 applications submitted. Her proposal focused on ecological storytelling, specifically, how overlooked species and park infrastructure intersect within the ecosystem. In addition to Rober, this summer’s artists include Pierre Jalbert, Hunter Goan, Ben Banet, Kite Davenport, Deborah Jojola, and Jennifer Ball.

Roper primarily works in linoleum and woodblock printmaking using a technique called reduction printing. This involves carving a single block in layers, printing one color at a time, and removing more material between each pass—essentially drawing in reverse.

“Although I studied painting in college, I shifted to printmaking when living in a small apartment that wasn’t suitable for painting. I quickly fell in love with the slow, meditative process of carving, the tactile nature of the materials, and the clarity of line that printmaking offers. While I still paint and draw, especially in the field, printmaking remains at the heart of my practice,” said Roper.

Roper has always used art to interpret and understand the world. From an early age, she was drawn to animals and the natural world, sketching what she saw and inventing stories about the creatures around her. 

Over time, that curiosity developed into a visual language that combines research, storytelling, and observation. Today, her work continues to explore the relationships between people, animals, and the places we share, often highlighting overlooked species or ecosystems. 

During Roper’s residency, she led two public programs designed to connect visitors with her work and the park’s ecology. She also hosted a public artist talk at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, called Storytelling, Ecology, and Printmaking: An Artist’s Journey.

Roper wants people to know that, in addition to being a practicing artist, she has been a public school art educator for over 25 years and currently teaches high school in Howard County, Maryland. 

Roper runs a business, Jump Jack Studio, where she shares and sells her printmaking work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a master’s degree in teaching from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in printmaking from Towson University.

Roper’s work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and she frequently presents at conferences on the intersections of art, ecology, and education. This summer, she is also participating in a second residency with the Sea and Learn Foundation on the island of Saba in the Dutch Caribbean. 

Each artist commits to creating a finished work inspired by their time in the park. Within one year of her residence in July 2025, Roper will send an art piece to Rocky Mountain National Park. Roper says the artwork will be, “A lasting reflection of my experience and a way to share the wonder of this place with others.”

The artist-in-residence program continues through Oct. 4.