What began as Friday-night painting sessions with friends has grown into a deeply personal artistic career shaped by sport, memory and resilience.
Montreal-based artist Jessica Boudreau — who now works under the name JbArtMtl — says her creative journey started at just eight years old.
“It was really just for fun, painting with friends every Friday night,” she said. “We would go painting and it was like a really fun thing. And it was kind of like my hobby and it was always something that was really fun for me to do and de-stress and something for me to do with my friends.”
After stepping away from art for a period, she later returned through studies at John Abbott College, where her style began to take shape.
“That took a long time,” she said. “I did a lot of collages. I did a lot of live models and all that. So you kind of start developing little things here and there that stick.”
Her signature style — often featuring black-and-white elements with pops of colour — continues to evolve.
“I think that I’m still even developing my style,” she said. “When you’re in it, you just want to do whatever comes naturally. And that’s the best thing you could do.”
Her work is now becoming instantly recognizable.
“Now my work is actually being recognized as like, ‘oh, that’s a JB art,’ which a few of my clients actually told me my work was recognized in their homes,” she said. “Nothing is better than that as an artist to hear that.”
For Boudreau, hockey and creativity are inseparable, shaped by a lifelong connection to the Montreal Canadiens.
“I’ve been a Habs fan my whole life,” she said. “I named all three of my kids after hockey players: Malkin after Evgeni Malkin, Avery after Sean Avery and my daughter Haley for Hayley Wickenheiser.”
That passion naturally merged with her artistic work.
“I’ve always had a passion for sports,” she said. “I have a lot of respect for athletes and how hard it takes to get to the top of where they are. And it inspired me to put that same passion into my art and it kind of just went together.”
Rather than statistics or results, her inspiration comes from defining moments.
“For me, it’s all about moments,” she said. “It’s that moment, those chills that you get when Cole scores his 50th or the save, the wink with Patrick Roy. These are all moments that I know as a fan are really special.”
“When the pictures the next day come out, I just know I need to paint that,” she added.
Her work has reached Canadiens players and their families.
“The first painting I made of a Habs player was Sean Monahan,” she said. “Brittany, his wife, contacted me and she was the sweetest ever. It was for his 700th game. They were so nice, they shared a picture with me and they were so happy with it.”
She later worked on a project involving Patrik Laine.
“He was so happy as his first Habs painting as a Habs player.”
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She also participated in a charity initiative involving several Canadiens players.
“I did a Habs painting and then some of the players signed it,” she said.
For Boudreau, the goal extends beyond recognition.
“That’s really been my purpose in art, is also to give back any way that I can,” she said.
Behind the artwork is a deeply personal story that reshaped her life and purpose.
Her son underwent an eight-and-a-half-hour brain tumour surgery at age five.
“Even in that process, he had to learn how to walk, talk. It’s just awful,” Boudreau explained.
The experience changed how she approaches both life and art.
“Through this I always said, ‘please save my son and do something for my son,’” she said. “I will promise that I will give back any way that I can.”
Today, her son is part of her creative process.
“I’m blessed enough that I have my son with me that takes all the pictures and videos,” she said. “When you see my paintings, it’s him in the back like, ‘Mommy are we almost done?’”
“He’s my biggest inspiration,” she added.
Despite a growing commission list, Boudreau says she continues to balance client work with passion projects.
“I do have a client list that I have to keep up with,” she said. “But if it’s like a special order or something that’s rushed, there’s always ways around it.”
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Some players remain on her list of dream subjects.
“Definitely Dobeš,” she said. “Everybody is really wanting me to paint him.”
Looking ahead to Game 4, she is confident in the outcome.
“I definitely know the Habs are going to win. We’re in it now,” she said.
“I definitely think we’re winning. I think it’s going to be another crazy goal game. Let’s say 6-3 for the Habs.”
Even as her audience grows, she says her focus remains on authenticity and gratitude.
“My work is all one of one. I put my whole heart into my art and people feel it when they receive it. They really say, ‘oh my god, I didn’t expect to love it even more when I got it in person.’ That’s a big thing a lot of my collectors say.”
“I’m very blessed.”
