Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1367506
| OHCC LIVING | MAY 2021 | 27 Art room Welcome to the Art Studio! This month, Judy Harris and Lainy Vinikow feature the beautiful paintings of Jan Malone. As a bonus, we learn the story behind her art. In Jan's own words: Why I Paint I love beautiful things and that search for beauty is why I paint. Painting brings me joy… and speaking of joy… my art teacher's name was Joy. I love her spirit. I loved her life. Every day she would paint and tell me about how much fun she had. Then one day she told me she was going on a painting tour to Europe and asked if I wanted to join her. Before I gave it any thought, I said YES. So off to Europe we went, going to all the art museums, traveling the places most desired by artists and every day we would paint. Everyone shared what they had painted that day and everyone's art was gorgeous. I, being a novice and never having painted anything acceptable, feared showing my work. I hid it. I feared it. I feared being a failure. I noticed that everyone was so happy and I wanted that happy… and so I painted. I discovered that painting isn't a talent, it is a feeling. When I was happy, my paintings were happy. When I wasn't loving myself, my watercolors reflected that. I was putting my feelings down on paper. I also discovered that some would not enjoy my idea of art. That was ok. They had a different happy. I painted for the joy of it. I never framed or hung anything, I just enjoyed it… all by myself. Then one day I got sick. I got really sick and my wonderful husband thought that framing and hanging those papers would bring me joy. He went to a local consignment store and bought dozens and dozens of frames for $3, not knowing if anything would fit. He bought a matting machine and came home and started doing his form of art… matting and framing and hanging my paintings. It was the perfect act of love and it helped me get healthy. Those still hang on our walls. Some people love them, some people don't. I loved painting them. I love that my husband loved me enough to do all that… and so, my art is loved… and it makes me happy. I share with you a favorite quote by Frida Kahlo,"I paint flowers so they will not die." Well, I paint memories so they won't die… and I share with you some of the paintings that brought me joy in the creating.