The Colors of Joy — HOME DESIGN HAND CRAFT

What brings you joy? For my client Jane Underhill, it’s many things including a talent she discovered later in life. I visited Jane’s home a few months ago and was taken back by her colorful and varied artwork. I was even more intrigued when I found out she was the artist! Jane and I hit it off immediately as I helped her with some deign work in her family room. She gave us a tour of her home and I realized that this woman had a divine talent for putting paint to paper.

Holly leaves and berries reflect Jane and her family’s love of Christmas. This piece is in honor of her daughter, Holly!

Jane grew up in Minnesota and has a degree in Music Education and Piano. When arthritis diminished her ability to play piano, Jane was not deterred from creating joy in her life. She took a painting class with a friend in 2002 and caught the art bug. She was helped along the way by a good instructor and 2 years later entered a piece in a juried art show where she took the 1st place prize! Since then, Jane has entered many competitions and has a website where she sells her creations.

This painting of a famous bridge in the Twin Cities won her a 1st place prize!

Jane has expanded her repertoire over the years with different techniques and styles, from realism, to impressionism, to moderm, to abstract, it seems she is very good at all of them. Here are a few examples.

The technique that was for me the most unusual and exciting, was a poured paint technique. Jane started with a smooth piece of watercolor paper and using squirt bottles filled with pure pigment paint, poured multiple colors on the page. She then used a spray bottle of water to direct the paint where she wanted it to go. She picked up the paper and turned and angleed it until she achieved her vision of the piece.

Water sprayed onto the paper to help roll the paint around.

A blotting paint to pick up the extra paint off the board.

Jane used a blotting technique also. She used the paper to blot extra paint and water from the board and she removed some of the paint with a Magic Eraser sponge to create contrast, shadow, and definition. It’s incredible how the poured paint results in a stunning landscape or abstract, or floral!