Meet Janis Commentz

We were lucky to catch up with Janis Commentz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Janis, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I believe we all are born as creative beings. I hope that sharing my story will encourage others. From early on, I had a pencil or paintbrush in my hand, and I was encouraged to draw and paint! I loved showing others how to make things, and I knew I’d like to be a teacher someday. My experiences fostered my love of art, writing, creating, teaching and using my imagination. I had access to art materials and my artist mom taught me important skills such as painting surfaces white, stretching canvas and designing creative projects. As an only child, I invented ways to entertain myself: creating school schedules, house plans, and eventually organizing fairs and events for neighborhood children.
Although my activity as an artist is to paint, my years teaching strengthened my role to inspire and coach others creatively.
Directing others toward creative joy is a worthwhile purpose. I have volunteered for non-profits, directed a gallery, facilitated a life drawing group (for close to ten years), and taught in-person and online painting workshops.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I paint. I was surrounded by many art materials as a child. Therefore, I had time to experiment with many types of paint: watercolor, oil, gouache and acrylic. Teaching high school art allowed me to work in dozens of mediums such as printmaking, collage, dyeing, papier-mâché and to share art history and culture.

Growing up in the 60s, women had career challenges. When I expressed an early interest in teaching, my artistic mom and aircraft engineer dad breathed a sigh of relief!

Since then, the Mojave Desert has made its stamp on my life and art. Who we become is shaped by place and our journey. Teaching led me to the desert near Joshua Tree, which at the time, was quite desolate. It was not the chic bohemian hipster destination it is now. It was a drastic move from the coast to the desert. Moving to a harsh climate and community was a challenge. Although my teaching experience proved to be deeply rewarding, it was hard work. I was privileged to work with a qualified team who nurtured students and each other. Sky High School (now Black Rock High School) provided an alternative individualized education to art-risk teens. I was hired the first year the school opened, and many of the students lived in very isolated desert areas. For me, the desert became a crucible.

Today, I express my love of the desert and the coast through painting – in a contemporary impressionist style. Painting, like storytelling, must express a truth. Rather than replicating an image, a painting expresses the essential elements of its subject. Art is a pathway to explore ourselves, our relationships with each other and our relationships to the environment. Composition and color can replace the demand for literal elements. I strive to interact with the viewer through a more casual, intimate conversation, punctuated by spontaneous brushstrokes and color saturated or subdued by the sun and wind of the high desert.

Beyond the desert, my journey has led me to France where I fell in love with the City of Light and the French countryside. My travel sketches inspire my new online business, French Press where my calendars, cards and stationery are available online. More recently, I have renamed the business French Press & Mojave Inspirations, highlighting places I love! This has led to some unique experiences such as interview with a French wedding officiant for his podcast, The French Wedding Show Podcast, and another podcast about creatives in Paris, La Vie Creative.
I facilitate a weekly Zoom art group which has become an oasis for both experienced and new painters.

Today, you can find my artwork on my website www.janiscommentz.com, at Artsy, at Etsy, in local Joshua Tree area shops and on social media. For the past five years, I have created a France Sketchbook calendar and my new calendar will be available in early fall 2024 at my online shop.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

During my journey, three important skills have been acquiring knowledge and technique, developing an encouraging approach and organizational skills. It sounds cliché, but follow your own path. It is important to learn skills from others and to develop an awareness of your environment, but follow the desires of your heart, your God-given talents. Be patient, which is much easier said than done. Create your own pace, and do not be afraid to slow down. Give yourself grace. Self-care is not selfish. To care for others, one must care for self, and many are responsible for children, parents or both.

Connect with people who do what you want to learn. Visit studios. Take classes. Read! Listen to podcasts – which have exponentially increased in number since 2020. Make a schedule; it’s yours to change. However, without a plan you get nowhere. If possible, meet with a like-minded person for accountability conversations or join/create a group with whom you can share goals and projects. Refine your priorities. For ten years, I have met with a small group of women painters who meet regularly to discuss our art.

I look to the words of Louisa May Alcott, “Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” And now, when I grow overwhelmed, I step back, look at my calendar, schedule alone time to read and maintain healthy practices.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents always encouraged me, and although they also encouraged a practical path, they encouraged my interests. My father urged me to complete a teaching credential. My ceramist/painter mom showed me how to do things. To outline. How to prepare surfaces to paint. They gave me a sense of confidence.

I was also allowed to rest. They did not put a lot of pressure on me, although I was expected to be diligent. They had survived the Great Depression and gave me the tools to travel future paths. My parents’ love guided me throughout my career and personal relationships. I married a desert dweller, and we have raised two children.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photos in Paris by https://www.missparisphoto.com/

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