Life & Work with Janet Rundquist

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Rundquist.

Hi Janet, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I grew up on the prairies, hills, and mountains of Wyoming. As a child, I spent much of my time outdoors. Our family seemed to collect a variety of horses, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, a steer, and other various species. We also had a go-cart, motorcycles, skis, ice skates, sleds, skateboards, bikes….. anything to keep the kids active and out of my mom’s hair. Nature, for me, was an integral part of my life. But it was not only a place to play and have thrills. Nature was a place for me to examine, feel, contemplate, and enjoy my time alone.

When indoors, I spent a lot of time with pencils, crayons, and etch-a-sketch in hand. I don’t remember art NOT being an important component of who I am. As I grew, I always remained somewhat infatuated with art and nature.

I went to college knowing art would always be part of my life, but I didn’t realize that it could be a legitimate career. I changed majors about five times before heeding sound advice from someone who encouraged me to study art. Being an art major, and later getting a degree in Art Education, was like a dream come true. After graduating from the University of Wyoming, I was led to a life which has revolved around art.

After college, I didn’t have the confidence to pursue painting as a profession. Instead, I co-managed an art gallery, worked as a graphic designer, taught art in public schools, and served on various non-profit artboards.

Finally, after my children were born, creating my own art became much more of a priority for me. I painted a lot of wildlife until it became a bit tedious for me. I gradually found that painting abstractly was much more challenging and exciting. Abstraction was the catalyst that required me to truly allow the sensations of nature to engulf me while painting.

After painting abstractly with oil paints for over 20 years, I became intrigued with the process of mixing cold wax medium with oils. This combination allows me to express my deep ties to Mother Nature both spiritually and emotionally.

Currently, my work can be seen at Saks Galleries, in Cherry Creek, Denver, and my studio in Evergreen.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is never a smooth road. There are always obstacles, hurdles, and hard choices.

I think my greatest obstacle was myself. It took a long time for me to develop the self-confidence to pursue being a professional artist. I eventually looked for guidance and found kind, generous people to help me. Because of them and my passion for art and nature, I found the will and drive to pursue my dream as a painter!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an abstract artist working with a combination of oil paints and cold wax mediums (CWM). The cold wax medium consists mainly of beeswax, a small number of mineral spirits to soften it, and resin for hardening purposes. CWM is never heated.

CWM thickens oil paints and I find it too thick to use a brush. Rollers, rubber scrapers, and palette knives are the tools I use to apply the paint. I mix in sand from my travels and wood ash from my fireplace to create texture. I build layer upon layer, scraping away and building more. The final result is filled with subtlety, surprises, and a deep sense of nature.

What am I most proud of? I really don’t think I’m “proud” of my work, per se. I love to paint and express myself. I certainly feel validated as an artist and grateful when someone is willing to part with their hard-earned money to purchase one of my pieces. I love it when my paintings speak to me as well as to others.

I think the one thing that sets me apart from a lot of other abstractionists is that people who have an aversion to abstract art tend to take the time to view my work. They are compelled to ask questions and then read their own stories into it, rather than brushing it off as “something my kindergartener could do”.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I plan to jump out of an airplane on my 80th birthday. (Of course, they will have to pry my fingers off of the door jam and push me out of the airplane kicking and screaming).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://janetrundquist.com
• Instagram:www.instagram.com/janetrundquistart