About the Artist

 Artist Statement

I have tried many mediums, styles, and subjects over the years.   I find myself continually drawn to creating flowing curvilinear lines and shapes in the abstract.  I also enjoy the figure and portraits in realism.  Combining the two seems like bringing together chords with the melody

   In my recent work, I imagine the music and then the figures and movement that come along with it.  I hope others can hear and feel it too..  My work is a visual representation of what the music feels like.

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(photo at Ringling Circus Museum)

 ABOUT

Janet was born in southern Missouri and lived her early years in southern Illinois.  During high school, she moved to Michigan where she went to University of Michigan, married and raised her family.

Her very first memories are on the floor coloring all day with her brother who had Down Syndrome.    When she was 10, money was tight, but she begged for  a John Nagy Learn to Draw set for Christmas as her only gift and worked through each exercise diligently.    College, marriage, children, and many special needs adopted children, put art on hold.   She took a few classes at the the Flint Institute of Art.   The death of a daughter in 1997 was life changing and in 2009, their severely disabled son, Michael went into hospice care and Janet  knew she  needed to do something.   She resumed taking classes in 2009 and painting again and hasn't stopped.   Husband's retirement brought an eventual move to Florida where she enjoys the advantage of the many experienced artists and teachers.