A collection of original art depicting a variety of species facing imminent extinction will be on display in Ocean County libraries throughout autumn 2019, beginning with the Little Egg Harbor branch. The paintings are the work of Tuckerton artist Jill DeFelice.

As a former elementary school teacher, DeFelice feels strongly that art should help inform and inspire the viewer. Information on each species represented in the collection is provided, as well as ways in which various conservation organizations are working to preserve these animals for the future.

DeFelice is a self-taught artist, painting primarily in oils and acrylics. Her works encompass a wide variety of themes – from portraiture to landscape to the animal world.

For nearly24 years, the DeFelice family lived overseas. The places DeFelice called home and the many locales she visited left deep impressions on her both personally and as an artist.

Her subjects reflect her life. “The infinite variety and beauty in this world are constant sources of inspiration,” she…