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About Jan Oliver

Selected Exhibitions, Shows & Awards
2004 Best of Show
Southwest Show
Pueblo Art Guild
2004

First Place - Acrylics
Southwest Show
Pueblo Art Guild
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2004 Juried Participant
The Figure Portrayed
Business of Art Center
Manitou Springs, Manitou
2004 Juried Participant
Colorado Influenced
Business of Art Center
Manitou Springs, Manitou
2005 Juried Participant
Vintage Harvest Festival
Holy Cross Abbey,
Canon City, CO
2005 Juried Participant
Own Your Own
Sangre De Cristo Arts Center & Museum

Postcard Artist
2006 Juried Participant
Own Your Own
Sangre De Cristo Arts Center & Museum
2006 Juried Participant
Vintage Harvest Festival
Holy Cross Abbey,
Canon City, CO
20072007

One Woman Show
Milagro: A Southwest Celebration
The Great Southwest
Colorado Springs, CO

2007 Juried Participant
Own Your Own
Sangre De Cristo Arts Center & Museum

Postcard Artist
2007

Dia De Los Muertos
A Day of the Dead Celebration
Vision Gallery, Chandler AZ

   

 

My paintings are for me the journal of how I see the world. In my world, light takes on vibrant hues, buildings glow, gray horses become blue in clear luminous light, angels and birds and magical creatures appear, stars sparkle in the sky, day mixes with night and people take on the most beautiful personas that are within them. My paintings reflect a world of peace and harmony--of love and faith and celebration.

More than anything, I feel that I am not painting these paintings for me - they are for you - they are for the world. If I can paint something that can open up feelings in another person, make them smile, feel love, deepen their faith, or give them a glimpse of the beauty that is still in the world-then I think I have done my job. In short, what is important to me is what you see in them.

I am a self-taught artist. I started painting in October of 2003 after 30 some years of procrastination. My ability to paint came as a spontaneous gift, and since that time I have painted over 200 paintings. I paint 3-4 days a week, 4-6 hours a day/night, in the studio that I built onto the back of my house--surrounded by four cats, my husband David and son Trevor. Outside my studio is my garden bursting with much of the color and life that inspires my paintings.

I grew up splitting my time between the Southwest and the Deep South. I have also traveled extensively in Latin America. All of these places have left deep impressions on my soul and have great impact on my art. I find myself exploring and re-exploring themes of motherhood, expressions of faith and the faithful, the roles and archetypes of women, the simplicity and grace that can be found by working the earth with your hands, the bounty of harvest, and the history of these beautiful places. I enjoy using the stronger lines, colors and forms that so beautifully represent the vitality and richness of these cultures. Some of the artists that have influenced my work are Diego Rivera, Rudolfo Morales and Marc Chagall.

My goal now is to keep painting and to broaden my ability to share my art and to communicate the passion and joy that I try to embed into every painting.