Brushstrokes and Legacy: The Art of Jill Peckelun

Basic Information

Early Life and Family Roots

Jill Peckelun’s biography threads together two distinct narratives: an individual journey as a painter and a family story entwined with modern American history. She is the daughter of Major Richard D. “Dick” Winters, the U.S. Army officer of the 101st Airborne whose leadership was chronicled in Band of Brothers, and Ethel E. Winters, the family’s steady center. With her father’s passing in 2011 and her mother’s in 2012, Jill’s ties to public memory and local heritage became more visible, even as she developed her own artistic voice across Pennsylvania’s fields, rivers, and towns.

Rooted in Pennsylvania, Jill’s life and work are shaped by the quiet drama of the Mid-Atlantic landscape—seasonal color swells, weather-worn barns, creekside mornings. She paints the moment as if it could evaporate, a practice aligning naturally with plein air’s discipline: be present, be fast, be true to the light.

Artistic Journey: Plein Air Practice and Studio Depth

Jill is primarily a plein-air and studio oil painter known for saturated color and confident brushwork. Early recognition in acrylics—evidenced by her ISAP signature status—gave way to a lasting commitment to oil, a medium whose texture and luminosity match her approach to atmosphere and form.

Her practice blends fieldwork and studio refinement. In the field, she captures the first impression—angles of sun, a moving shadow, the blue edge on a distant roofline. Back in the studio, compositions find their balance: shapes sharpen, hues deepen, edges soften. The result is a body of work that feels both immediate and enduring, like a journal where every page was written outdoors, then carefully illuminated indoors.

Workshops, open studios, and project-based community engagements have punctuated her calendar in recent years. She shares process insights, participates in juried shows, and keeps up with the yearly cycle of plein-air events—those traveling theaters of easels, canvases, and quick-drying paint.

Exhibitions, Awards, and Milestones

Regional arts communities know Jill for the consistency of her output and the polish of her results. She has earned top honors at juried plein-air events and steady placements in exhibitions hosted by respected arts organizations. The Camp Hill plein-air event—one of the Mid-Atlantic’s favorite painter’s gatherings—has recognized her with a top prize. Additional awards and invitations at gatherings such as Kutztown’s “Alfresco!” and juried shows at venues like the Wayne Art Center have rounded out a record that reflects both skill and stamina.

Below is a snapshot overview of selected milestones and roles:

While the list is not exhaustive, it reflects the arc of a working artist’s life: steady exhibition, iterative growth, and recognition earned through participation and persistence.

Family Members

Jill’s family story is frequently part of the public conversation, especially around historical memory, veterans’ history, and community commemoration. Each family member has been introduced plainly in public records and local accounts.

• Major Richard D. “Dick” Winters — father (1918–2011)
  • The commander associated with E Company, 101st Airborne, whose leadership gained national attention through Band of Brothers. Jill is openly identified as his daughter in memorial accounts and community discussions.
• Ethel E. Winters — mother (d. 2012)
  • Remembered in community obituaries as Richard Winters’ wife and Jill’s mother. Notices identify Jill and her husband among survivors, linking the family’s private grief to the public remembrance of her father.
• Edmund (Ed) Peckelun — husband
  • Listed alongside Jill in family references. He is not publicly profiled beyond those mentions and appears to be a private individual.
• Richard T. Winters — brother
  • Named in family notices as a son of Richard and Ethel. In some references, additional relatives such as a grandson, Jake, are mentioned in connection with the Winters family.

Legacy Stewardship and Public Voice

In the 2010s and continuing into the 2020s, conversations about how to appropriately memorialize Major Winters surfaced in local communities on both sides of the Atlantic. Family members, including Jill, sometimes expressed reservations or offered guidance when proposals did not align with the spirit or wishes associated with her father’s legacy. Her involvement underscores a broader stewardship: honoring a story of service without turning it into spectacle.

This measured stance mirrors Jill’s work at the easel. She paints with a respect for the subject—its light, its contours, its quiet dignity—allowing the scene to tell its own story.

Style Notes: Color, Light, and Place

Jill’s paintings favor a vibrant palette that leans toward the expressive. She is often described as a colorist, a label that lands comfortably when you see the way she pulls a surprising violet from a shadow or finds warmth in a late October hillside. Edges fluctuate between crisp and softened, granting her landscapes a sense of motion—wind in grass, ripples on water, a cloud drifting like a slow ship.

In plein air, minutes matter. Temperatures shift. Light changes by the quarter hour. Jill’s work channels that urgency into clarity—simplified shapes, decisive strokes, well-chosen contrasts. In the studio, she extends the dialogue, translating fleeting impressions into forms built to last.

Community and Recent Activity

A working artist’s calendar has its own seasons—spring festivals, summer painting days, autumn shows, winter studio time. Jill maintains an active public presence through her artist website and social platforms, sharing updates about exhibitions, workshops, and projects. Recent notes include juried show acceptances, regional awards, community arts engagements, and open studio announcements. She also contributes to local efforts in art education and youth-focused creative activities, reflecting a belief that art belongs in public life, not just on gallery walls.

FAQ

Who is Jill Peckelun?

She is a Pennsylvania-based plein-air and studio painter known for color-forward landscapes rendered primarily in oil.

What kind of art does she create?

Jill paints outdoor and studio landscapes, translating direct observation into expressive compositions with decisive brushwork.

Is she related to Major Richard D. “Dick” Winters?

Yes. She is his daughter, and her family ties often intersect with public remembrance of his service.

Where is she based?

She lives and works in Pennsylvania, participating in regional galleries and plein-air circuits.

Has she received art awards or recognition?

Yes. She has earned awards at regional plein-air events and holds signature status with the International Society of Acrylic Painters.

Does she share information about her finances or net worth?

No public or reliable personal financial data is available; she appears as a working regional artist.

Where can I see her work?

Her paintings are viewable through her official website, social profiles, and regional gallery exhibitions.