We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jan Pomeroy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jan below.
Jan, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I go for hikes in nature almost every morning. I feel that helps to ground me and gives me a better perspective for the day. Getting out in God’s creation is very uplifting and gives me gratitude for the natural world around me. On the days I don’t do that I go to the gym and work-out. That does help me to feel strong and healthy and gives me a good start to the day. I also read a devotional and the bible to help me stay focused on the gifts that God has given me in the creative process. I am also in AmeriCorps at Imagine Art where I am an Artist in Residence. i mentor artists with disabilities and that process of giving of my art knowledge does help me to keep my creativity alive.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have been an artist for many years and have pursued many various art forms. I have apprenticed under Phil Lauer a cloisonne’ enamel artist where I learning how to do that enamel technique. I have also apprenticed under Helene Rumpel to learn a fiber art technique, fine art stitchery in the late 1990s. I have also explored and done wood & clay sculpture, colored pencil drawing, oil painting and mixed media painting. I lived in New Mexico from the early 1980s-2012 and during the later part of that time I experimented a lot with mixed media painting. I really loved that technique as it offers unlimited experimentation. I have taken various workshops in mixed media and have taught classes in mixed media. I did end up moving to Austin Texas in 2012 and continued with mixed media painting and also did some fiber art. In my fiber art i would used free motion quilting techniques, applique and embroidery. In my mixed media paintings I would do texture on my art panel with collage, metal leafing, pastel, ink, acrylic, photo transfers and sometimes found objects. The sky is the limit with my mixed media! Living in New Mexico has heavily influenced my paintings in the colors I use-It is a special place I love to go back to visit.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Find what you love to do and gain the skills in workshops-in person if possible. I feel the in person workshops or classes you will get more out of them. I also watch videos online to gain more skills and ideas for my art. Getting out in nature is also a must and can help your frame of mind and creativity. If you can meet with or befriend artists that are more experienced and get feedback from them. Artists groups in your area is a must too where you can have more opportunities to show your work. Also having the studio time to experiment and try new things to develop your skills is very important. If you truly want your art to be a business, you need to set aside time for marketing on social media, building an email list to send out information on your art events-etc, bookkeeping to keep track of your sales and expenditures. Of-course before all this you need to apply to your local government to get your tax permit to establish your business and pay sales tax.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
The ongoing challenge for me is selling my art and finding the right clientele to buy it. When I do art shows I do sell but I want to do more exhibitions where the people are there to buy the art. I guess that is my major obstacle. Doing the art shows and festivals are very labor intensive and I feel I can’t do them by myself -I need the help with setup and breakdown. So I need to continue to look for high traffic exhibitions and calls for artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.janpomeroy.com/
- Instagram: @jpomeroyart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jpomeroyart
Image Credits
Jan Pomeroy
