Featured artist: Jan Byers

Guest artist Jan Byers, from Australia, tells us how she rediscovered art as an adult. This month, she is one of two featured artists at Louise's ARTiculations. If you wish to be featured as a guest artist in a future post, please contact me.

Do visit previously featured guest artists published in 2018 here.

Jan's story.

I live in Western Australia in a small seaside town about 3 ½ hours drive to Perth, the nearest big city. I am married and have 3 adult children. My family is very supportive of my art adventure and my daughters are lining up for some of my art as gifts.

I have drawn since I was a very small child. As drawing materials were scarce in our household, I used whatever I could to produce my little works of art.

For instance, I drew on the inside white pages of story books and I still have some of those books with my artistic endeavours. While considered not proper to damage books in this way, it’s now a lasting memory and sample of my childhood art.

I loved to draw brides, fairies, and princesses – nothing much has changed in that I still like to draw people, usually beautiful faces.

It wasn't until I was well into my adult life that I had the opportunity to study art. An artist taught me to paint with oils. I painted country scenes (landscapes) and I loved painting old, falling down houses.

Evolving as an artist

Next, I dabbled in folk art for a short period of time, then zentangle, but my real passion was to draw faces and figures. I was frustrated that I couldn’t produce the work the way I wanted it to be.

A whole new world opened up for me when I finally stumbled into Facebook in late 2017. I quickly found the art groups along with art teachers who could help me evolve as an artist.

I have spent the last 12 months learning and practising graphite drawings, discovering how to use watercolour and acrylics, and all the wonder of mixed media.

Over this past year, I’ve seen tremendous growth in my art work. I hope the growth and learning continue for many years to come.

I love all art mediums with a soft spot for watercolour. My first lessons last year through Facebook were with Katrina Koltes – “Watercolor Dreams”.

Katrina remains a favourite artist as I just love her dreamy, magical paintings.

Here are my social media links :

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janbyers123/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jan.grace.186

Please leave a comment for Jan in the Leave a Reply box under this post.