Jewell Starday (1938 - )

Works for sale by Jewell Starday 

Betty Jean Washington, also known as Jewell Starday, was born in Jefferson County Alabama, near the city of Bessemer. She Stopped using the name Betty Jean Washington shortly after she started painting.

Growing up in Alabama and New York City, her childhood was marred by poverty. It seemed inevitable that she would drop out of high school, and soon after she did, she got married and another chapter of disaster began.

In order to support herself and her twelve children, she did domestic work, cleaned houses, laundry, etc... She lost five of her children long the way.

In 1993, she came back to Alabama and worked for her son Lonnie who had become a lawyer. It was at this time that she took up painting after her daughter encouraged her. Painting was Jewell's therapy. Her images include African Royalty and are very colorful with large, bold brushstrokes.

Jewell is featured in the book “Revelations: Alabama’s Visionary Folk Artists”

Works for sale by Jewel Starday