Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Anderson.
Hi Janet, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Although I have been a full-time artist in Denver for fifteen years, my path to this point has been a circuitous one. I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, where my interests were primarily sports-related. I always enjoyed drawing, but art was not particularly encouraged and I was far more interested in sports. I attended the University of Tennessee and was a member of the Women’s track team. While at UT I took a couple of drawing classes, which rekindled my interest in drawing. After college, I struggled to find my way in the job market with my English degree, so I pursued a law degree at the University Of Virginia School Of Law. I practiced law for a number of years, but always knew it was a poor career choice. In 1993, I moved to Denver, and continued practicing law part-time until my third child was born. It was then that at a friend’s suggestion, I enrolled in an oil painting class with a local Colorado landscape artist, and soon I was hooked. I continued to paint and study painting sporadically until my children were older and I had more free time. I was eager to fast-track the learning process so I enrolled in classes and workshops with a number of respected teachers, and in 2008 I began to sell her paintings and pursue art as a career. As an avid outdoors-person, I am drawn to landscapes as my primary subject matter. I gather many of my reference photos from hiking, biking, fly fishing and skiing trips. I also spend considerable time painting outdoors, en plein air, enjoying the beauty of nature while pursuing my passion for painting. I participate in invitational plein air events throughout the country and recently painted in such remote places as Patagonia and Peru. In recent years I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge and experience through teaching landscape painting to adults at local art centers and at the Plein Air Convention in Santa Fe.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a professional artist is not an easy road. Being taken seriously as an artist and gaining traction with collectors are some of the challenges. Social media platforms have exposed many more people to original art, but not “educated” people on how to distinguish between fine art and “craft” art. It is increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd and actually sell original paintings.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am primarily an oil painter, although lately I have dabbled in gouache, a water-based medium which is great for travel. I prefer to paint from life, either outdoors en plein air, or from a still life set up in my studio. I frequently use my outdoor landscape studies as the basis for larger studio pieces. I sell my original pieces through galleries, my website and plein air events.
I believe what sets my work apart from others is that it reflects my truth and walks the line between representational and impressionistic work. I try to be truthful to my subject matter, yet impart my emotional response to the subject through interesting brushwork and texture.
I am most proud of having my work juried into prestigious national shows and being named a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I actually don’t think luck has played a significant role so far, but I am hoping for some good luck down the road! I was fortunate when I first starting selling my work to have some friends who advocated for me and encouraged me by buying my not-that-great paintings. Early encouragement works wonders for any creative person.
Pricing:
- Painting are priced according to size
- Price range is $500 to $5500
- All paintings are originals
Contact Info:
- Website: www.janetandersonfineart.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/janetandersonfineart
- Facebook: facebook.com/Janet.Anderson.Fine.Art
