Artist Jill Flinn, has been designing and creating bas relief sculpture paintings since 1990. Her technique developed from a desire for more depth of surface texture not found in using paint and gel mediums on canvas and board. Essentially, she creates her own canvas on which to paint. Each piece begins as an original relief sculpture in paperclay. Some of these sculptures  are cast in paperclay and polyurethane. All are original acrylic paintings. Paperclay is a sculpting compound she uses as it air hardens and does not warp or shrink as does earthen clay. Upon completion, the pieces are matted in acid free white mat board and framed in black, 1&1/2 inch deep metal frames, by her husband, Steve Flinn.

It has been said that artists should paint what they know. Living rurally and surrounded by nature, Jill draws from and stylizes images found within the Missouri countryside. Never ones to turn away creatures in need, she and Steve have taken in numerous abandoned cats and dogs. They have an out-of-pocket no-kill shelter for dogs, currently with 28, down from 40 last year. Her art work inspired by these once wayward pets is collected by many kindred spirits, some of whom adopt their very own rescued dog from the Flinns.  Her art and their mission are meant to bring a smile.