Artist Janet Southcott has made her living through printed words as an editor and writer. After treating herself to some fine quality paints and canvases as a birthday gift four years ago, her abiding interest in painting quickly became an exciting new vocation.
When did you first get into painting?
I grew up in West Yorkshire, England, within an artistic family. My dad's brother is a career artist, teaching and selling watercolour paintings. My dad picked up pastels and created some incredibly dramatic images of landscapes. He is also an avid photographer. Their abilities to transfer what each saw onto a two-dimensional surface was inspiring. I wanted to do that.
What is your background?
I took art in high school and carried colour pencils and a small sketchbook with me as I travelled the world, but was not confident in my work. I moved to Powell River in 2005 and took a couple of lessons with Ursula Medley. Ursula taught me a lot about light and dark, and I explored acrylic and oil, painting indoors and outside. Four years ago I bought myself expensive acrylics and canvases for my birthday and set up an easel in the dining room. All of a sudden I could paint. The colours worked; the images captured places my husband and I visited in our sailboat. My art was something I put on display instead of hiding it away. In my relationship I am able to grow my art and my husband is my biggest supporter. I quit my day job three years ago and over the last couple of months I finally don't feel guilty about lifting the paintbrush while I hear others driving off to work.
What do you most love to paint and who or what inspires your work?
I paint what makes me happy, what interests me. Usually, I work from a photograph I have taken and often the subject is scenery. However, I enjoy still life, flowers, birds, patterns found in nature and have tried a few portraits. I love the art of Andrew Tischler, Drew Burnham and am stunned by our local Anna May Bennett's work. They all use the most amazing shapes and palette of colours to depict what they see.
Where can people see your paintings?
Last August I joined Artique-Artists Cooperative. I also participate in the annual Powell River Studio Tour and keep a blog of my art at janetandjanet.wordpress.com/gallery. Painting is very meditative and I believe an extremely healthy thing to do. I think art lessons should be part of everyone's benefit package.
