Jane Appleby
“I am inspired by the drama of light, which presents colours and rhythms, as it moves along forms. My dynamic compositions are a contemplative and heartfelt response to my experiences, representing the “visual music” I feel. Each brushstroke is like a colour note or chord playing out the scene, offering a connection with the viewer through dynamic movement and exciting colour.”
Jane Appleby is an expressive painter inspired by the Canadian landscape. She often paints outdoors in the plein air tradition of the Canadian Group of Seven. Nature inspires her colourfully unique abstract and impressionistic work, which has been described as ‘Emily Carr meets Gauguin.’
Jane was born in the Czech Republic and immigrated to Vancouver in 1969. She recalls the freedom she felt at experiencing the beautiful natural settings of the west coast.
She has painted for over twenty-five years and currently works in oils, acrylics and watercolours. Her artistic mentors include Robert and Sara Genn, Brent Lynch, Mitchell Albala, Marcia Burtt, Mike Svob and Don Farrell.
Jane’s expressive style of fast, purposeful painting began when the Genn’s challenged her to paint using 37 minutes and 37 strokes. Her mastering of the technique helped establish her dynamic style, which was featured on Genn’s ‘Painters Keys’ popular blog.
Jane has received several awards from the Federation of Canadian Artists, written articles for various magazines, and facilitated plein-air paint-outs. She instructs workshops to art groups and is a regular instructor at Coquitlam’s Place Des Arts. Jane occasionally teaches watercolour classes on various cruise lines overseas. Her work is available via the galleries on her website. Jane also invites you to share in her inspirations and painting methods on YouTube.
Through her work, she hopes to inspire the artist in all of us.