Theresa Bernstein started drawing at seven and honed her talent at the Philadelphia School of Design. In New York, she challenged societal norms and painted real-life women at a time when female artists were largely ignored. The Power of Her Paintbrush tells the story of how Theresa overcame sexism and discrimination to leave a lasting impact on the art world.
Today author and illustrator Janice Hechter joins us on the blog to share what compelled her to write Theresa’s story, her research process and more!
What was it about Theresa Bernstein’s paintings that captivated you so much that it propelled you to write a book about the artist?
I love the way Theresa captured the light in many of her paintings, particularly, in Suffrage Parade, my favorite painting by Theresa. In this painting, doorways and windows of buildings in the background glow with dandelion yellow and marmalade orange light, set against a dark night sky. Theresa often painted night scenes with brilliant lights set against backdrops of darkness. This technique highlighted the drama and importance of these events.
All of her paintings exude the excitement and energy of a particular moment in time, which I find to be so intriguing.
Can you share any insight into Theresa Bernstein’s work process that readers might find interesting?
Theresa often attended concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City. With little money, she couldn’t afford a seat, so she stood in the balcony with the other “standees.” She always preferred to paint people who had no idea that they were being painted. It was much more interesting to her than painting someone in a pretend pose. And a concert at Carnegie Hall was the perfect place to sneak in some sketches, while the audience absorbed themselves in the music. Theresa was known to stop at nothing to get a quick sketch in before the moment disappeared.
When Theresa was gripped by the emotions of people she encountered, those people would often become the subject of her next painting. Theresa quickly and discreetly sketched the scene on anything available to draw on, whether it was the backs of letters, napkins, or scraps of paper. She was determined to capture the people’s expressions and feelings on paper.
Theresa’s desire to paint was so strong that if she couldn’t find a blank canvas to paint on she grabbed a painting she had done before and painted over it.
Theresa Bernstein faced a lot of discrimination as a woman artist in the early 1900s and met up with a lot of people who tried to dissuade her from pursuing a career as an artist. What do you think kept her from giving up?
Theresa was a confident woman who believed in her abilities as an artist. And her parents placed great value on Theresa’s art ability, at a time when many parents discouraged their daughters from pursuing art as a serious career, instead urging marriage as a goal. Theresa’s parents encouraged her painting, even if it meant putting up with the smell of turpentine. Not only did her mother write letters praising Theresa’s art, but both parents happily served as models for many of Theresa’s paintings. As you’ll see in the book, the owner of an art store where Theresa bought her supplies also took notice of Theresa’s art talent and played a key role in getting Theresa’s art out into public view. Sometimes one person can really make a difference.
How did you conduct research for this book?
I was fortunate to be able to find a wealth of information about Theresa. Her autobiography, which was published when Theresa was 101 years old, was particularly helpful. It gave me a window into Theresa’s childhood, as well as many pivotal moments in her life. I had access to Theresa’s scrapbook, notebook, personal documents, writings, and videos. I got to know Theresa through the many interviews I conducted with her friends and relatives. I also read an adult book about Theresa’s life and work.
Do you think that Theresa’s childhood influenced her art?
Yes, definitely. Theresa painted many scenes of operas, parades, and beaches. As a child, her parents often took her to operas, parades, and the beaches of Atlantic City. And speaking of parades, sometimes all Theresa had to do to catch a bird’s-eye view of a parade was peer out her bedroom window in the middle of the night, as a circus parade pranced across the street.
What qualities do you admire most about Theresa?
Her resilience. No matter how many times people tried to discourage Theresa, she always persevered and bounced back stronger. Nothing could stop her from creating art. I also find her ability to paint from memory fascinating. When Theresa was out and happened upon something she just had to paint, she simply made a quick sketch, and later headed home to paint from memory.
She once said, “I find that I can paint almost anything that I have seen, provided I make sketches of it immediately…”
Was Theresa Bernstein a feminist?
I believe so. Suffrage was a theme of four of Theresa’s paintings. In 1915 Theresa and thirty other women put together an art show to raise money for women’s suffrage. Theresa donated The Suffrage Meeting. Only Theresa and one other artist exhibited work which had suffrage as its theme. Because Theresa’s painting was featured on the cover of all the announcements promoting the show, many people took notice of her painting. Through her art, Theresa helped spread the suffragists’ message.
In the early 1900s many illustrations of suffragists appeared in newspapers and magazines, but often the women were portrayed as angry, bossy, and grotesque. Theresa expressed not only respect for the suffragists in her paintings, but feelings of kindness and sensitivity towards them as well.
You have a B.F.A. degree in illustration, and studied art in college. Did you learn about Theresa Bernstein there?
No. I didn’t find out about Theresa’s art until five years ago. In college, we mainly learned about male artists. People are only now starting to learn about women who at one time were successful working artists, but then “disappeared” from history.
Praise for The Power of Her Paintbrush
“A clear, informative book that will have readers cheering for a little-known artist who blazed her own beautiful trail.”—Booklist
“Hechter’s text is well researched, detailed, easy to follow, and accessible to children. Her appropriately painterly illustrations burst with color and contain effective reproductions of Bernstein’s art. . . . An inspiring account of an artist who fought misogyny at each turn—and triumphed.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A great book that touches upon societal issues that need to be taught to children through books like this one.”—Children’s Literature
“Beautifully illustrated by Hechter, this children’s book, intended for kindergarten through third grade, serves as an inspiring reminder to young readers, especially girls, that they can achieve anything they set their minds to and overcome obstacles without giving up.”—San Diego Jewish World
Connect with the Author
Janice Hechter is both an author and illustrator who has exhibited her paintings throughout the country. Janice has illustrated eight picture books, including SCBWI Crystal Kite Award finalist, The Great Elephant Escape. She is based in Connecticut.
Book Launch
If you are in the New York area, you could join the author for the launch of The Power of her Paintbrush. Join Janice for a reading and exhibition at Lincoln Glenn Gallery’s Upper East Side location at 2pm on March 14, 2026. More information can be found on the Lincoln Glenn Gallery website here.
