JAN POLK, Painter of the Great American Flower Collection ™
Jan is a Cincinnati, OH, artist currently residing in Southgate, KY, and is known as The Painter of The Great American Flower Collection™. She has studied art since 1988 and studied four years with Don Dennis, a well-known Cincinnati, OH, watercolor artist. Jan studied three years with nationally known artist David Mueller, a Chicago, IL, artist at the time residing in Covington, KY., and well-known for his oil portraits, figurative genre paintings, and landscapes. In 2003, Jan studied in California with Susan Sarback, Founder of the School of Light and Color to learn the palette knife technique of the Impressionists.
Jan employs a multiple glazing technique to achieve the depth of color in her watercolor paintings. She also works with a limited palette of only the most lightfast watercolors to ensure the paintings will stand the test of time. Inspirations come from travels to Europe, especially Italy, Canada, and the USA. Her works are in private collections in the USA, Europe, and Australia.
Jan attained “Signature Status” in the Cincinnati Art Club in November, 1999. October, 2001 through April, 2004, she was appointed to the Board of Directors as Membership Chairperson and in 2001 to current became the first Webmaster of the Cincinnati Art Club’s website www.cincinnatiartclub.com. Jan is also Webmaster of her own website www.janpolk.com which was established in March, 2000. Jan was a charter member (2002-2011) of the newly established Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society. In January, 2004, Jan became an Exhibiting Member of Pleasure Island Art Association, Inc. in Orange Beach, AL which, in 2006, PIAA became the Orange Beach Art Center.
In 2004 Jan began plein air painting with two friends she met at OBAC. In 2006, Jan began exhibiting as a group with these two friends and became known as one of the "Three Impressionists of LA (Lower Alabama)." The other two are Barbara Grey from Vermont and Joanne B. Hall from Arkansas. We painted together through 2011.
In 2007, Jan became a juried member of the Performing Arts Association in Foley, AL. where the Three Impressionists of LA held their first group exhibition in March, 2008. A second exhibition "Travels" was held in 2009 at the Orange Beach Art Center. The group was honored to be the very first to kick off OBAC's monthly featured artists series which continues today. Their third exhibition "Alabama Connections" was held in 2010, again at the Foley Performing Arts Association.
“I am compelled to paint. I want to use art to inspire all of us to be respectful to one another and to work together just as the paints must work together to achieve beautiful results.” Jan’s realistic/impressionistic paintings make a bold statement but they are not overpowering. They are intended to be a respite from the violence and obscenity that seems to be creeping into our daily lives.
The Great American Flower Collection (™) is fine art that symbolically promotes the message of respect, personal responsibility, and working together. The GAFC represents our human traits distilled down to our common bonds as Americans.
In 2008, Jan co-published with Margery Sinclair "A Year of Good Manners," a hard cover book 8"h x 5" w which is a perpetual, daily calendar to collect autographs of loved ones, record birthdays, anniversaries, and remind you to use good manners everyday all year long, year after year. It is destined to become a treasured family heirloom passed down from generation to generation. "A Year of Good Manners" features Jan Polk's "Original Collection" from the Great American Flower Collection "respect series" of watercolor paintings which remind you to treat yourself with respect and Margery Sinclair's words tell you how and why you would want to treat others with respect. This is the "manual" that should come with every newborn. It is a way to pass along your values to future generations. Respect and Manners are our common bonds.
Jan can be reached by email: janpolk@janpolk.com To view other works in the GAFC, please visit her Website: www.janpolk.com
