Original Paintings

“Since working with a Hopi trained shaman on and off for several years, my relationship with Creator, Mother Earth, and the Grandmother and Grandfather Spirit Beings has intensified and thusly played a more important role in my paintings. I am a pipe carrier and within the Kiva (an underground ceremonial room) which I built on my land while building my straw bale home, I do pipe ceremonies for healing, release, new beginnings, and celebration. It was a spiritual Grandfather who drew me to the remote northern New Mexico land I now call home.”

Though Jan’s past southwest landscapes had intensity and depth, the emergence of spirit animal beings and ancient Natives reach subtly out from textures, shadows, and reflections in her paintings. The Hopi as well as many Native traditions believe from the first emergence of people into existence, we have now moved into the Fourth World, and that we are on the verge of either destroying this existence or leaving it behind for a Fifth World or Universe. Many believe that the Fifth Universe energies allow us to “walk between worlds,” more deeply incorporating Spirit into our physical world. Much of Jan’s newer paintings express the theme of ‘Manifesting Spirit in the Physical, Moving into Fifth Universe Energies.’

The powerful Four Directions Series came from Jan’s going into her Kiva for ceremony and being told to “Paint the Four Directions!” She responded, “I was like a teenager throwing a tantrum because I was painting landscapes for other potential exhibits. The struggle was in vain, for we must all listen to that strong voice, whether it comes from inside us or from a prayer setting.” What emerged from deep within her were intense expressions of each of the energies of the directions. Powerful animal spirits spoke their need to be in each. The paintings became experimental, using mixed media. The North has crystals on it; the East has butterflies and dragonflies who had been hit on the road; snakeskin is on the South; and Raven feathers grace the West. The results were a powerful lesson to “listen” and express what is set before her.

The color of New Mexico skies and landscape is reflected in a more brilliant, abstracted form of painting. Still Jan’s love of the desert landscape comes through.

She was drawn to northern New Mexico and Georgia O’Keeffe’s landscape by a deep spirit within her. Without knowing anyone in New Mexico, she uprooted from family and friends in Salt Lake City and camped out on her land for several months while her straw bale home was being constructed. Feeling so close to the Earth and Sky touched her need to express Creator Spirit and Mother Earth in all paintings to come.