130cm x 130cm
Acrylic pigment on canvas
White wood frame
£7,000 + VAT
Enquiries: info@artin.agency
John Cotton: +447788276922
Servanne Sohier: +447779577614
My creative practice stems from a fascination for the spiritual connection between land, sea and sky, nature in all its contemplative glory. My paintings are an emotional response, a tangible visible form of a feeling. A sense of place through the expression of marks and colour between the real and imagined places, both from the actual and remembered. I am fascinated by combining these through line, colour, texture and shape. I love to work outside for plein air sketches and then to work through sketches and to develop paintings both in the environment but also through memory and imagination back in the studio.
My process begins by meditation, the ephemeral quality is essential and this gives me permission to connect with my colours, add the mark-making, some detail to suggest the natural forms, to build the layers, to resonate the memory settled in my mind.
The colours are so important to me, they enable me to suggest the life force and energy of the world we are surrounded by, and also the magical echo of the imagination. All of these stages become a process of meditation. Some pieces resolve more quickly, depending on size, some I work on for many weeks. These three are a series of my larger works, they are not quick fixes, I never know how they will turn out, they belong for a lifetime.
ABOUT JAN GARDNER
Jan Gardner was born and brought up in North Wales and spent much of her early years wandering the lanes and hills around her home. It was here that the light, space and colours that inhabit her work first became an influence. Drawing on these memories and experiences of special places and her later travels in Europe, Morocco and the U.S.A.; she crafts vivid and atmospheric works. Colours that fly in from emotion and passion, relaying a deep connection with the varied, differing landscapes from which they evolve.
The life affirming quality of her work is gleaned from her desire to look further, texture, mark-making and layering becomes apparent, a legacy from her time spent at Winchester School of Art. One of the most noticeable aspects of Jan`s work is her use of rich, magical colours, subtle nuances with the range of water-based media. The historical and contemporary use of colour within the artistic practice of the Fauves, Impressionists, Expressionists, and Scottish Colourists has also been an inspiration and influence.
In 2007 Jan was awarded an Arts Council of Wales research grant which enabled her to explore the source of her palette and the ancient and contemporary manufacture of pure pigment in Milan, Geneva and New York. In 2012 was awarded grant from the Arts council of Wales towards a new body of work for a major touring solo show starting from Oriel Gallery, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, Flintshire, north Wales. This major new body of work toured the U.K throughout 2013-2014 including venues in Scotland, England, culminating in the tours conclusion in Oriel Ynys Mon, Llangefni, Anglesey in 2014.
Jan was invited as a member of The Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy in 2015. Jan held her first solo show at the Royal Cambrian Academy Conwy in 2017. In Spring 2018 Jan was comissioned to produce a series of works for Forest Holidays UK. Jan continues to show work at the ‘Resipole Gallery’, Strontian, Scotland. Jan has recently been invited to become a member of the Royal Watercolour Society of Wales. Jan`s work is held in private, public and corporate collections in the U.K, and internationally.
OTHER WORKS BY JAN IN THE EXHIBITION
