My Story

How life knew me, before I knew myself.

How it all started.

Early retirement from a career in classical music and ICU nursing took me on a journey to rediscover my creative soul - and I found art.

Proudly a pastelist I have a fascination for the vibrancy of this exciting medium and its ability to create magic as it glides across a page. I am inspired by nature in all her forms and whilst most of my work is created in the studio, my process is strongly influenced by frequent travels into the outback and the bush.

With Copious sketches, colour studies, and notes; memories of the mood, colour, and anecdotal experiences come flooding back.

Capturing a Moment in Time.

Like a time traveller I want to capture the essence of that transient moment, incorporating colour to express emotion; edgy mark making to reveal  rugged landscapes; bold compositions and translucent glazes to convey mood.

It Is the beauty and resilience of nature which leaves me uplifted and excited to return to the easel each day.

Beauty is to be shared and my wish is for you, through my art, to pause, linger and to feel a connection with the natural world.

Recognitions

  • 2026

    • SALA at 123 Fischer St

    • SALA at Atelier Crafers

    2025

    • Beyond the Gloom — Arthouse Gallery

    2024

    • ATELIER Australis — Artworx Gallery

    • SALA at Atelier Crafers

    • Exhibition at Kruse Legal

    • Exhibition at Kaesler Winery, the Barossa

    2023

    • SALA at Atelier Crafers

    2022

    • Stumphill Gallery

    • SALA at 123 Fischer St

    2021–2023

    • Artist in residence — Hayes Winery, the Barossa Valley

    2020

    • Exhibition at the Coorong Gallery

  • 2025 Highlights

    • June 8 | Demonstration & Meet the Artist | Goolwa

    2024 Highlights

    • March 1 - 30 | Pastel demonstrations and meet the artist | Mitcham Memorial Library & Blackwood Library

    • April 6 - 7 | Workshops | Barossa Valley Arts Festival

    2022 Highlights

    • Pastel classes for beginners at Atelier Crafers (Crafers, SA)

    • April 1 - 3 | Barossa Valley Arts Festival

    • April 1 - 12 | Workshops

      • “Dramatic Skies”

      • “Seascapes”

    • April 2 - 3 | Meet the artist

      • Hayes Family Wines

      • Tanunda

    • Apr 22, May 22, Jun 26 | Atelier Crafers workshops

      • “Stunning Skies”

      • “Magic of the Sea”

      • “Pampered Pooch”

    2021 Highlights

    • August 6 | Art demonstrations: Arthur Streeton style

    • July 17 | Artist in Residence: Blackwood Rotary Art Show

    • Workshops:

      • July 12 | Streetscapes Abstracted

      • July 26 | Rugged Coasts

    • August 27 | Streeton-themed Landscape, SALA

  • 2025

    • City of Mitcham Council -Award of rechognition | promoting the arts in the community

    2024

    • The Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada – Finalist | Juried Member Online Exhibition

    • Images uploaded from Put Some Colour In Your Life.

      • Curated for inclusion in the international Lunar Codex, launched by NASA in memory boxes onto the moon to represent planet Earth's creativity

    2023

    • Campbelltown Art Show — Merit Award

    2021

    • PASA Creating the Pastel Dream — First Prize | Animal Section

    2020

    • Invited as a demonstrating artist on the TV art documentary series Put Some Colour In Your Life.

    2016

    • Campbelltown Art Show — Merit Award

    2015

    • People's Choice — Chapel Hill Winery

    2014

    • Loxton Art Show — First Prize | Open Art Section

    2012

    • Big Circle Arts Collective — First Prize | Technical Skill

    2011

    • Adelaide Town Hall — First Prize

  • Janette is based in South Australia where the bright blue skies and rich terracotta earth are integral to the vivid colour palette that she favours. Her style is impressionistic, influenced by realism, and thus instantly recognisable for it’s energy, emotion and vibrancy. Focusing entirely on the medium of soft pastels and mark making; colour and mood are her trademark tools in creating dynamic and emotive paintings encapsulating  the beauty of the Australian landscapes and wildlife.

    Janette is a self taught artist who has refined her practice through workshops with notable artists including Evert Ploeg (Archibald people’s choice award winner and signature status of the portrait society of America), Tony Alain (Scottish international master pastelist recognised throughout the EU, UK, Asia and USA),  Stan Spurlak (master pastelist USA), and Maxwell Wilkes (fellow of the Victorian Arts Society and chairman of the famed twenty Melbourne Painters Society).

    Janette is a member of the Pastel Society of Australia and the Pastel Association of New Zealand. She has won numerous prizes and awards, has been published in Coastlines Magazine, featured in the Blackwood Courier paper and was recognised in 2024 with an award from the City of Mitcham council for her contribution to the arts. In 2020 She was invited to be a demonstrating artist on the TV art documentary Put Some Colour In Your Life and in 2023 her episode was curated and included in the Lunar Codex memory box Polaris, representing Earth’s creativity and launched by NASA onto the moon. Janette typically holds solo exhibitions annually and is frequently sought after by art societies to give pastel demonstrations.  Janette has recently retired from teaching commitments in order to focus on her own creative work. Currently, Janette is a mentor with Alain J Picard  (Master Pastelist),  Founder of Picard Studio; an online international art education academy.