J.McWilliams (1953-) was born in the rural town of Newton, New Jersey but left at an early age. At 15 she moved to NYC to study art. As her mother commented, " she was only with us long enough to learn to walk and smoke." She became a painter and lately, a retired Professor of Fine Art/creator and coordinator of the Fine Arts Degree Program at Sussex College in northern New Jersey where she taught art for 30 years. In addition to lecturing and teaching classes in drawing, painting, and art history, her program included fine art photography and ceramics affiliated with the prestigious Peter's Valley in Layton.
As a student, she studied painting with James Ernst, Phillip Perlstein at Brooklyn College and sculpture with Jonathan Silver in the 80s, exhibiting regularly in the Manhattan tri-state area throughout the 80s and 90s before accepting a teaching position.
After completing two Masters Degrees, she was awarded a fellowship at Princeton University for one year before completing her Doctorate Degree from Drew University. She was awarded the James Paine Writing Excellence Award for her biography of the artist, George Mueller, whom she later married. She continues to write art-related articles, and exhibits her drawings annually.
She currently lives on the coast of Northern Maine where she continues to write and work on abstract charcoal drawings.