Artist Statement
Visionary and spiritual artist Jan Wright presently lives on the edge of wilderness in southwestern Colorado, with the Mesa Verde Range out her front door. Many of her intensely vibrant watercolors express Fifth World energies: that of manifesting Spirit in the physical. Spirit Beings, whether animals or ancients, often hide within the textures, shadows, and reflections of her paintings. She also creates medicine shields, dream catchers, and fans with leather, beadwork, intricate knotting, and feathers, fur, stones, and charms.
"Often an image comes to me as I awake in the morning; then I give it time to develop more clearly. I may ask for guidance during my sunrise prayers to allow the animal or spirit to ‘speak through me’ and allow the painting to flow from Creator through my heart and hands onto the paper. That’s when the magic happens!"
Jan's vivid, more intense color comes from glazing layers of transparent color on top of each other. "With watercolor, it's very tricky and only a few colors can be used for glazing without turning the painting to mud," Jan says. "Learning to not overwork a painting is always a challenge."
Jan’s paintings are in numerous private collections around the country as well as the Salt Lake County Arts Collection. She has had several successful one woman exhibits in Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. Her BFA from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970 led her to teaching art, watercolor, beadwork, macramé, creating personal shields, journeying to connect with spirit animal guides, as well as Tai Chi.
“A few years ago, with much gratitude in my heart, I vowed in all things to creatively express Spirit (Creator, God, Goddess, Father Sky) and Mother Earth so deeply as to touch the hearts and souls of all who look upon my work.”
For additional information about Jan, check out Jan's Bio page and Resume.