Biography
I was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1944. My father was a forester, and as he made many moves during his career, I lived in a total of six states until graduating from Frankfort High School (Kentucky) in 1962. After receiving a degree in Fine Arts from Indiana University in 1966, I married, and later had two children. Upon moving to the Chicago suburbs in the 60's, I immediately started entering and showing paintings in local art fairs and exhibitions. The early 80's brought a move to Milwaukee, after having spent a wonderful two years in London, England. There I had the excitement of a landscape being juried into the 1980 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. In Milwaukee I concentrated on painting the landscape, and ended up showing them at the Delind Gallery of Fine Arts, the Katie Gingrass Gallery, and doing many commissioned pieces.

A move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1994 was a turning point, both personally and artiscally. It became a time to re-evaluate my life and art, and in both areas I ended up making a radical change. My landscapes were put on hold, and I began experimenting with oil and collage. These collages captured my imagination and interest, and I did many while living in Iowa. The return to Wisconsin in 1998 was followed a few years later by a divorce. I settled into a new home in Brookfield, WI, and became very involved with Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors. I served as the Program Chair for four years, and co-chaired the Biennial exhibition for several years. I am also a member of the League of Milwaukee Artists, and have participated in many of its juried shows.

Currently I am working on a series that I call the "retro portrait" series. I use canvases covered with vintage fabric or wallpaper and paint over them with images from old photographs. One of these was recently purchased by the Waukesha Public Library for their permanent collection. I also have done a partial series of still lifes using old mannequins, antique toys, and objects of curiosity. One of the most rewarding projects I've been involved with has been a duo exhibit with Gary John Gresl. Gary, my significant other, had the idea of my selecting certain assemblages he had done to serve as themes for my "answer" in paint. The resulting exhibit, HE SAID, SHE SAID, was first shown at the Rowe Art Gallery in Carroll College in 2005, and a year later in 2006 the show was seen at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI.

The gallery on this web site is roughly divided into three groups: the oil and collage paintings and "retro portrait" series, the still life series, and the landscapes. The size, date of completion, and price may be seen by clicking on the thumbnail image. Please feel free to contact me with any comments or questions!


Fine art by Janet Roberts 262-790-9291