Artist Statement
“As an artist I love the unpredictable charm of the watercolor medium. I’m grateful for the gift of time spent in my studio with views of our Wasatch Mountains for inspiration. I’m learning that taking the time to “be still” and see creation’s beauty around me, brings joy and inspiration in my life, and in my art.”
Growing up on a beet farm in rural Caldwell, Idaho was the beginning of Janice’s art career. Her mother was constantly supplying her with paper so she could sketch scenes and animals around the farm, including her favorite hunting dog, Toby. She believed this child had some talent, so she bought her a ‘paint by number kit’ for Christmas… which was her first ‘oil painting experience’.
Janice was the designated artist in her small country grade school, drawing chalkboard scenes for each holiday. The family’s fishing trips to the Cascade Mountains, inspired more scratch paper creations. During high school and college she was involved in various art projects and art classes.
After marriage, she and her husband moved to Los Angeles, California, where she took a few drawing and perspective classes at Harbor College in San Pedro. She dabbled in oils for a few years while raising her children. When they were transferred to Utah, she took her first watercolor class at the University of Utah, and she fell in love with the medium, which encouraged her to take all the watercolor instruction she could, beginning with the Utah artist, Norma Forsberg.
Through the years she has received valuable learning from watercolor artists such as Osral Allred, Carl Purcell at Snow College, Alex Powers, Gerald Brommer, Arne Westerman, and David Drummond, just to name a few.
Amazing opportunities came to help her grow and learn more as an artist by attending painting trips and workshops in Greece, Italy, Santa Fe, Zion’s National Park, England and Scotland.
Janice is a member of the Utah Watercolor Society and served as President in 1998-1999. She is also a Signature and Honorary member of the Utah Watercolor Society.
Her works have been shown in galleries throughout Salt Lake City and Park City, and has exhibited in group shows at Tivoli Gallery, Prestige Gallery, Bountiful Davis Art Center and Pioneer Theatre in SLC. Janice has participated in Utah Watercolor Society Shows, Utah Symphony Auctions, Art and Soup Celebrations, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibits, and has received numerous awards including Best of Show. She has been published in the Splash Publication 12, “Celebrating artistic vision” on page 56, for “Croquet: Straight Shot”.
“Croquet: Straight Shot” also received an award in the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies exhibit in 2010.