Location: Australia
Bio of Jan Lowe
"My art, my way"! Art expression is a personal journey, it brings the viewer into a special place - it is the raw emotion and feelings of the subject encountered and the impact that event had on the artist - be it a human, place or animal. It may not be a prize-winning artwork - but it is how this artist remembered the subject and that is why it was painted. It is from her vision and it's about passion and emotion. It's all about really seeing the subject, the energy, place and environment - how it impacted on her emotion. Without art aids, but with her, pencil, brush, pen or blade - it is what she saw and recorded that special feeling, it is part of her life journey.
Jan Lowe, AGRA
jan.lowe@camberwellart.com.au
www.janlowefineart.com
Travelling is an enrichment not just for a persons development, but for the opportunity to see the incredible creatures of the world, the domestic and wild, within this portfolio, I have recorded some of those beautiful creatures. Working in scratchboard, coloured pencil or watercolour or pastel.
“Dreaming of a featherbed - old Lioness”
This incredible lady, whom I called Elsa II, I met whilst working in South Africa. She was adopted by the ranger - and her young life nearly came to a halt because of poachers and "white hunters" as they were referred to, all of her immediate family were murdered. I so admire anyone who gives their life to saving animals, she was a delight and every time I visited over a number of years, she remembered me. I sketched her and took many photographs, in this scratch-board image, I tried to make out that she was free and resting in the wild, but she actually was lying on a rug.
Remembering a beautiful creature that had no match to the "pathetic human white hunter"! Scratchboard and Ink
Two cockatoo parrots, these two often visited out place, and did cause a little havoc, but a delight to see, and they are both very cheeky and always at play.
I used Ampersand scratchboard and watercolor for color.
This is a little Koala, one of the few survivors from the horrific bushfires of Victoria Australia. This little one was rescued and in recovery at the Healesville Sanctuary in Vic AU. It has damages to its feet; however, I am delighted to report, recovered well. I sketched it many times, and then drew the Koala onto a Ampersand Scratchboard, 14x11 inches, and used watercolor for color. It was sitting in a burn-out tree.
This is a beautiful little English cat I was asked to do a few paintings of. Her name was Olive, but I found her quite mysterious and a little naughty, so I called her Mystery! I used Scratchboard and Watercolor; I kept it simple. I used little color.
This dear creature lived for a short period on our farm, we are lucky to have these animals as regular visitors, and this Joey was a delight. I sketched her from life with watercolor (Daniel Smith colors).
These little birds are a wonderful encounter. This juvenile was very cheeky and often would site on the chairs on the porch and sing. I was delighted that it kept still for me to sketch many times and lucky enough to capture it with watercolor. The Kookaburra is so plentiful around our place, and we are blessed they are so trusting. Watercolor on Arches 360gsm paper.
Another treat that I often encounter on our property is meeting up with the Echidna's. They are amazing and this little fellow I met previously when he as a few months old, he is used to humans, and when I encounter him, he walks without curling up in a tight ball, he was hunting out the ants. I wanted to capture his character rather than all of is "spikes", he was just coming out of his den when we met. Watercolor on Arches paper.
Places seen during my travels, memories that say forever, the beautiful country side of Italy - especially in Sienna, France, US and UK
Just love Sienna and its little townships, I missed the name of this gorgeous street, but the white cats made it easy - hence White Cat Lane - beautiful place,, the soft lights shining through the doorways - give life. Acrylic (Sold)
“The beautiful Kauai Island and its creator ”
We walk around the perimeter of this amazing extinct volcano, the view from the rim was immense and running. No animals - but so many birds and stunning variety of scrubs and trees, exhausting to walk it, but worth every effort. Watercolour
After a long day at the National Gallery of Victoria - the visitors were eager to get home after the rain storm. The colours of the reflections were just too much to not sketch. Scratchboard and Ink
During the fire season, the sky is stunning, and the purple clouds were with us for some weeks. Magical for painting. I did this painting with claybord and watercolor, capturing the essence of the movement and hopefully telling a story of the power of the storms and they control it has over us all. Although it was a fearful time on the land, it was magical to see late in the day.
The fearful skies continue the following year, and I capture this image a few times, but the deep blue and reds at sunset make it so real and spooky. I used watercolour on claybord.
This is one of my favourite places, the beautiful town of Quebec Canada. We mainly travel during the hot summer months to Canada and stay and enjoy the beautiful scenery and winter snows. This was early one morning during our walks, and it was so peaceful and quiet. I used scratchboard and watercolor.
Images that I have seen and people I have met - I see an image and its form and grace are important factor when planning a scratchboard or painting. Although my desire is painting animals, all subject are important. When painting people - it is their face and form - large hands, a face that tells a story or a pose.
This painting was from photographs from a tripe I did in the 1970's, with a small group on holidays, and we stopped at a small village not too far from Kabul Afghanistan. There was a small group of people working on various projects, and this man was carving from old metal pieces and making exquisite jewelry, to sell at the local market. He was using very limited tools but watching him was wonderful. I used Ampersand Scratchboard and color by watercolor. 18x24in.
This little girl was walking out of the National Gallery of Victoria with her mum; she was so excited and was fascinated by the balloons. It is part of a larger board I am working on. However, she was eye-catching. I used Ampersand Scratchboard and watercolor for color. 11x14 in.
“Ode to Cecil”
“What yah doing”
“Living with Hope, Koala”
“Miss Mystery”
“Joey, Wallaby”
“Juvenile Kookaburra”
“Echidna”
“White Cat Lane - Sienna”
“Waiting - NGV”
“Ventnor Beach PI AU”
“The mighty sky”
“White-out, Quebec”
“The Carver”
“Little girl with balloon”
