Jan Foulk: Eclectic Images from an Eclectic Artist
Exhibition Dates: April 22 - July 8
Opening Reception: April 22, 2023; 6-8pm
For as long as I can remember, I have been involved with arts and crafts. In kindergarten, I drew a box with two lines across the center. When the teacher asked what it was, I indignantly responded, “It’s a dress! Can’t you tell?” I spent hours making dolls from play clay and fashioning clothes for them to wear. And use commercial paper dolls? Forget it! With paper, crayons and watercolors, I made my own and designed a plethora of clothes for them. In seventh grade home economics, I sat down at a sewing machine and POW! It was “love at first stitch!” However, my school did not have art education, so my dad provided mail order lessons for me.
In college, I pursued both my loves with a major in home economics and a minor in art. I’ve had a variety of careers including dietician, art teacher, special education teacher, therapeutic nursery school teacher, home economics teacher, school counselor, and United Methodist minister. My husband is a retired pastor and we have four children and six grandchildren. My creative spirit was frequently called into use throughout my working and parenting years. Now as a retired person, I am having fun focusing on art once more.
Influenced by Impressionism, I love using colors and seeing how they work together. I try to represent anything that inspires and captivates me- be it landscapes, portraits, animals, even abstract ideas. Capturing a moment in time or an emotion is invigorating and rewarding. I often work from photos, especially when doing commissioned works. I also love sewing, jewelry making, and most recently, playing with clay (ceramics). My philosophy is: Any day doing something creative with my hands is a good day!
I love sharing my endeavors with others. I have won many prizes in shows, including two "best of show." Of course, winning prizes and selling my creations, can be both pleasing and exciting. Because, now that I am “repositioned for ministry” (aka retired), God has led me to use my skills in mission projects. The entire financial gain from awards and sales, as well as donations, help to provide salaries for teachers at two mission sewing programs for uneducated, impoverished young women in Liberia, Africa. In addition, upon graduation from the program, I provide the graduates with a brand new treadle sewing machine to take home so they can use their skills and provide for their families. To date, my artwork and sewing have helped nearly 200 women and their families out of poverty. Many of my works have found new homes in Colorado, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and several other states, and internationally in Denmark, Germany and Liberia.
I am a member of The St. Peters Cultural Art Center, St. Peters, Missouri, the Art Center Of Corpus Christi, Texas, and The Port Aransas Art Center, Port Aransas, Texas, and a signature member of The St. Louis Watercolor Society. This is truly a dream come true! I feel so blessed that I am able to use my talents and skills to help others.
