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Jan has a unique vision of the world that encourages her to create designs that capitalize on color and energy and convey a sense of possibility. She incorporates this vision into her textile designs and projects a positive and uplifting experience for those who connect with her high-energy work. Creating with fabric - manipulating, dyeing, stamping, designing, cutting, sewing and embellishing it - is her medium of self-expression.
In 1997 Jan and her husband moved to western Colorado from Illinois with the goal of creating and marketing her artwork. They left their familiar world, moved to a remote and peaceful ranching area near the canyonlands of the Utah border, and Jan instantly felt at home in this new environment. Though extremely busy with the creation and business of art, this remote location affords her much uninterrupted studio time. The surroundings are conducive to creating and reflecting on the rugged Western lifestyle around her. Jan enjoys working intensely with color and textiles and working with soft and pliable textiles greatly appeals to her. She hand-dyes her own fabric, mostly cotton, and adds detail and texture to each piece with rayon thread painting. Jan's pieces encompass a variety of themes. She enjoys working in abstract designs, which allow her to incorporate color, form and motion. Additionally, her representational work reflects, in part, her love of the west and a lifelong love of animals. The everyday sights of horses, ranches, cowboys, cattle and the sagebrush-covered acres are a tremendous influence. Her representational images blend the feeling of the west with fantastic color and dramatic design. These colors are vivid, bold and positive; always expressing her premise that art should be fun.
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this site is designed and managed by red river design - po box 99 - whitewater - colorado - 81527 
Jan was raised in Chicago, but her grandfather who grew up as a cowboy in Cody, Wyoming was a major influence on her. As a child, she listened to his stories of the west and dreamed of someday living way out there. As soon as she could hold a pencil, she was drawing pictures and as soon as she learned how to thread a needle she was fashioning things with fabric. At the age of twelve she started making her own clothes. As an adult she created wearable art clothing and accessories. She has conducted classes featuring both decorative sewing techniques and clothing construction and has experimented with many embellishment techniques. From there she has branched out to creating her textile art pieces.