Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Park Wells.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Born and raised in Korea, I came to the United States to study fashion design. But it wasn’t meant to be. I got married instead and became a stay-at-home mom raising two boys. When they were in elementary school, I went back to school to study art at Scripps College in Claremont. I loved being in school and fell in love with doing art, so I continued my studies in art and received an MFA at Claremont Graduate University in 1996. Upon graduation, I was invited by Ruth Bachofner to join her gallery. Ruth Bachofner kept me busy for 22 years until she retired in 2017. Now I work with several art consultants around the country. I was invited back to have a one person show at Claremont Graduate University in 2017. I also had one person show at En Gallery of Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden in Pasadena in 2018 and look forward to having a six-person show in San Diego City College Art Gallery next March. I found what I love to do and learned that it is never too late to find something you love to do and then do it.
Has it been a smooth road?
Yes, it was hard work to pay attention to raising our sons and to study and create art at the same time. But I have a very supportive husband who helped along the way and as our sons grew, they became very supportive as well. So, for me it has been a relatively smooth road.
However, I still would like to give credit to my parents who emphasized education and beauty in nature. My parents played a role in my esthetic sense; to this day, I remember listening to my parents talk about a calligraphy scroll hanging at our house, and describing the subtle differences in color of white, etc. In addition, great credit goes to all my art teachers and advisers during my undergraduate and graduate years. And of course, supportive friends and family members who supported my art throughout the years.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As an artist, I work with acrylic paint, although early on, I painted in oil. I made the switch in 2005 when I had to produce a lot of paintings for a show in Louisiana. The oil paintings that I was working on didn’t dry fast enough for me to do what I wanted to do. So I switched to acrylic. I’ve been very happy working with the medium and continue to use acrylic. My paintings are mostly in non-representational forms. The introverted thinker in me has been drawn to analytical systems. I like the parameters of the grid or the mathematical structure that produces rhythm in music. I divide the canvas in grids and create lines not using brushes. By doing so, I hope my paintings set me apart from others in concept and execution.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, Los Angeles is a great place for anyone who wants to create art and show their creations. Because there are a lot of art galleries and many artists from whom you can learn. I learn all the time from other artists in many ways.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.janeparkwells.com
- Phone: 3232701556
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: Jane Park Wells
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