Art & Life with Jana McLaughlin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jana McLaughlin.

Jana, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Now that I’ve been doing art for about ten years I realize that the art I’m creating now is a natural progression for me. Creativity and art comes in many forms, and I’d over the years always loved graphics and creating marketing materials and websites for businesses I was involved in. However, over that time I never felt like I could create actual art elements myself. That was when clip art was a big thing, and so I’d bring elements together to achieve what I was working on. About ten years ago I began buying art supplies and hadn’t looked back since.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I consider myself a mixed media artist as I don’t tend to work with just one medium. I’ll use watercolor, acrylic paint, papers, just about anything I have at hand to work with and I’m not afraid to intertwine the use of these on the same art piece I’m working on. Canvas always calls to me as a surface to create with but, is my most challenging to achieve the end result I desire and working directly on papers or wood surfaces tends to be easier.
The art itself naturally turns out colorful, lighthearted and has an air of youthfulness to it. I can’t force a certain “look” about my art; it just comes out as it comes out. I am learning to accept that an embrace is both the hardest and most wonderful thing about creating.
I keep images of all of my art pieces, good and bad, and will utilize computer programs to even bring parts together to create end products like my greeting cards and some of the items I sell.
Most people comment that my art makes them smile and some tell me they have a hard time sending off some of my cards cause they like just looking at them or having them.

Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
If someone thinks they can’t draw or paint or be creative, they are wrong. Being artistic is so encompassing that I believe everyone can find an artistic outlet that they can do and love! I wish I had realized that I could do art like I do now so much sooner. I always felt like art was only if you could produce a masterpiece or be gallery worthy. Those are both great things but realistically, just creating for creating sake is what we should focus on. The benefits emotionally and mentally are reason enough!

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work is always available on my website, www.twistofpink.com, but can be hard to maintain with all I offer. I do a few Spring, and Fall shows with my ’63 Shasta Trailer turned mobile studio, which offers a wonderful extension to my artwork. People are equally drawn to the trailer and the art itself. I have a display at The Market At 76067, a new destination stop out in Mineral Wells and am currently working on developing relationships with other retail locations. And of course, just contacting me if I post something on social media is an easy way as well.

Contact Info:

• Address: P O Box 119
  Weatherford, TX 76086
• Website: http://www.twistofpink.com
• Email: twistofpink@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twistofpink
• Facebook: twistofpink

Image Credit:
Jana McLaughlin

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