Jacquline Hurlbert knew she wanted to work with her hands from a very early age. Even if it was just in the mud.

Growing up in a small Nebraska town, Hurlbert didn’t have much access to art classes, but devoured her high school courses. She went on to study ceramic sculpture at the University of Nebraska, and later, at the University of Northridge in California.

Now, a veteran of the Bellevue Arts Museum ARTSfair, Portland-based Hurlbert is showing her work in three categories at the festival this year: ceramic sculpture, painting and multimedia.

An experienced ceramic sculptor, Hurlbert got her first taste of outdoor art shows while showing her sculptures at Portland’s Art in the Pearl show 10 years ago.

“It gave me a whole new way of presenting my artwork to people who had never seen my work before.”

She says she appreciates the varied personalities in the crowd – and the opportunity to really connect with her viewers.

“They don’t know that I am the artist, initially,” Hurlbert says. “It is wonderful to hear the comments, and to see them get up closer to the pieces and find details.

In regard to her art, Hurlbert says she is inspired by the complexities of life. Whether it be something in the news, something humorous, something traumatic or something fun, Hurlbert says she is constantly inspired.

Her pieces are colorful and textured, quirky and dark. And while her art spans a variety of mediums, there is a theme that seems to tie them together: psychological edge. In this vein, Hurlbert says her work revolves around the question “Who shall I wear today?”

“I’m trying to convey that every day you wake up, you are somebody different,” she says. “And you are in charge of what personality you choose to wear.”

Her paintings keep with this theme, exploring the complexities of life – both good and bad.

As for her painting process, Hurlbert says she starts with the first layer – a person or scene – and then paints three to four complete scenes on top. The idea being to carry bits and pieces of each layer to the next, developing a history along the way, while creating rich textures.

ARTSfair attendees can expect a wide array of work from Hurlbert, who plans to bring nearly every piece currently in her studio. She does this, she says, because it allows her to provide a more thorough selection for viewers. Her original paintings (36 by 48 inches) start at $1,500; she’ll also have large prints (17 by 22 inches) starting at $85.

For more information on Hurlbert’s work, go to www.jhurlbert.com.

You can also find her at the ARTSfair this weekend, taking place at the Bellevue Arts Museum and Bellevue Square as part of Bellevue Arts Week.