About Janna
I became a landscape painter because of the love for the scenery around me in the small Mississippi town where I grew up. I have become a Graphic Designer because of the amazement I felt at seeing the signs and logos of the big cities I visited with my family. I love designing logos as well as creating graphic illustrations. For landscape painting, I decided not to go the traditional route of John Constable or use the contemporary brightness of Wolf Kahn. I wanted a way to have contemporary compositions with a traditional palette, sort of like Fairfield Porter. I use photography to begin the process. Then I use Adobe Illustrator to create a graphic illustration of the photo. While making the graphic illustration of the landscape I use graphic shapes to show off the big blocks of color instead of using details to show different colors. I show off the design of a landscape by using finger like shapes that interlock with one another. Now color can trickle throughout the piece. The process gives me full control over color and shape, illustrating the importance of leaving things out. First, I use the graphic illustration as a thumbnail. After that, I make a painting from the illustration by subtly changing it, so it stands on its own. Using this process gives a different result from plein air painting. The format of each piece helps the viewer move like a pinball through the space. However, the crisp yet subtle edges found throughout the piece helps the eye move slower through the piece. This process also allows me to use the same subject with different mediums to allow everyone a chance to own a piece of fine art, no matter their budget. Alongside having a strong love for art, I have a strong passion to travel around the world. When traveling, I plan to capture the world’s vistas using this method. I’ll first take the pictures, then turn them into art when I get home. That way, I will not miss the experience of being in the moment.