We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jane Hunt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jane, 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?
In my paintings, I am focused on creating a feeling of peace – both in the making of, and viewing of, my work.
Since I was small, all I ever wanted to do was create art. After moving to the US, I went to art school and got a degree in illustration. I figured the commercial side of things would be more practical, but all I ever really wanted to do was paint.
After several very traumatic personal experiences, I started painting again mostly to help with my own healing. My paintings were very well received, I was invited into galleries all over the country, and soon had a very large following. It turns out that people all over are looking for ‘a gentle place to rest’ and I’m honored to be able to offer that to them. I hear feedback from people all over the world that my paintings brought them a moment of serenity, and in one, very touching incident, prevented a suicide. My purpose is about exploring the positive benefits of art on mental health.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In my artwork I aim to illicit a sense of peace, and hope. I’m extremely interested in the positive role art can play in mental health.
The viewing, or creation of, art can calm the nervous system. That’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about teaching. I’m currently taking names for my online teaching waitlist, and have several other learning opportunities coming up: https://www.janehuntart.com/teaching
The most exciting thing that happened this year business-wise was that the paint company, Winsor & Newton, launched my ‘Jane Hunt Paint Set’. This is an incredibly meaningful honor to me. Not only because I grew up just a few miles from the original Winsor & Newton factory in England, but also because they share my values as far as sustainability and commitment to the environment. The paint set they created for me is a water miscible oil paint. This means it works just like traditional oil paint, but it can be cleaned up with soap and water. Keeping thinners and other harsh chemicals out of our environment is something I feel passionate about. You can learn more about these paints here: https://www.winsornewton.com/na/articles/artists/featured-artist-jane-hunt/
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?
The three skills that have helped me the most as a professional artists are commitment, persistence, and bravery.
Commitment, as it applies to art, really means getting very good at your craft and practicing regularly. Persistence is a necessity in the art world because there is a lot more rejection than acceptance. Lastly, bravery will be necessary to overcome all that rejection. I’m not naturally brave – it’s really a matter of feeling the fear and other uncomfortable feelings, and proceeding forward anyway.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did was to routinely take me to art museums as a child. I was lucky to grow up just a few miles from London, where there are numerous world-class art museums. However, no matter where someone is located, there are always opportunities to expose a child to art. My parents appreciation for paintings really affected the course of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.janehuntart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janehuntart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jane.Hunt.Art
