“Good art…invites us in and elevates us, as we sense the tension and resolution within the composition, and in some cases, the creative process itself. This is an aesthetic experience.”
—Jacob Janes, artist
“Bullfighter” by Jacob Janes, Oil on panel, 23.5” x 19”, 2021, Private Collection
a guest blog post by Jacob Janes
What do you experience while looking at a painting? How does art affect you or the space it’s in?
Early on, I saw how marks on a surface added up to something greater than their sum. I felt that the images were more alive than myself. Good art does this; it invites us in and elevates us as we sense the tension and resolution within the composition, and in some cases, the creative process itself. This is an aesthetic experience.
“Untitled” by Jacob Janes, Oil on canvas, 38” x 34, 2021, Private Collection
I hope to share this with as many people as possible. It is a privilege to live with artwork which offers this type of experience daily. Artwork can define a living space and endlessly offer a refreshing and healthy perspective. This is my hope for my own paintings, whether in private collections, galleries, or museums.
“Birthday Bouquet” by Jacob Janes, oil on canvas, 23” x 18.5, 2021, Available
“Untitled” by Jacob Janes, gouache on paper, 11” x 10, Available
As an artist and educator, I want to create opportunities for myself and the students I am teaching. How can I encourage students to become artists if they are unlikely to succeed in this field or get teaching jobs? I want to find a way to educate the public on what they should expect to experience from a work of art, and why they should have artwork in their homes. Generally, what sells and what offers a genuine aesthetic experience are two different things.
“Nightcrawler” by Jacob Janes, Gouache and crayon on paper, 10” x 11, 2020, Available
The solution to this problem is to create more collectors who want work that looks good in their homes. Paintings can be affordable and they last a lifetime. There is also this funny thing about paintings, that they just sit there and I really don’t take that much time to look at them, even if they’re in my home. But they are there and they are offering something passively. They provide good, honest company. More than filling up blank walls, they challenge me to be the best version of myself, and that, to me, is something religious.
“Study of Medieval Painting” by Jacob Janes, Crayon on paper, 8.5” x 11, 2019, Available
For inquiries about purchasing a painting, contact Jacob Janes.
More Artists’ Thoughts on Painting:
New Years, New Days by Scott Smith
Chris Liberti: Thoughts on Painting
Words of Wisdom from Krista Steinke
Creativity is Everything by Adriano Farinella
Laura Vahlberg Ten Tips on Painting