I am a contemporary abstract artist working primarily with mixed watermedia. My work blends
bold colors, dynamic brushstrokes, and simplified flat shapes, often accompanied by collage
elements. These combinations aim to create a visual experience that evokes both intrigue and
a wry smile.
My artistic inspiration is deeply rooted in the aesthetics of Mid-century Modernism, Japanese
art, and Finnish design. I am drawn to their shared appreciation for minimalism—using limited
lines, color palettes, and an emphasis on simplicity. This fusion of influences informs the
distinctive style I create today.
Jan grew up in a Finnish-American family in a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,
surrounded by the natural beauty of Lake Superior. From an early age, she was steeped in the
values of simplicity, organization, and the appreciation of a good pun.
A graduate of Michigan Technological University, Jan began her career as a software professional.
But before settling into the tech world, she pursued her artistic inclinations, living in places
as varied as upstate New York and Paris. Eventually, she made Seattle her home—over 30 years ago.
After a successful career as a commercial software executive, Jan rediscovered her creative
side through watercolor painting. Her work has since evolved into a minimalist, abstract style
infused with a dry, witty humor that reflects her Finnish-American heritage.
Jan’s paintings have been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the
Pacific Northwest, including the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation Gallery, Lynnwood Convention
Center, Kirkland Library, Schack Art Center, Gallery One – Visual Arts Center, Overlake Hospital,
Renton’s Carco Theatre, and Pratt Fine Arts Center.
Her art has graced the cover of Cirque: A Literary Journal for the North Pacific Rim,
and she has received several prestigious awards, including the Florence Lindstrom Founder Award
(Kenmore Art Show), the Northwest Pastel Society Award (Women Painters of Washington at
Gallery One), and the William Radcliffe Studio Challenge Award (Kirkland Arts Center’s REDUX
Auction). She is also a past recipient of the Vascovitz Family Scholarship for Drawing and
Painting at the Pratt Fine Arts Center.
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