Jane Canfield lives in Leura – and is an established member of the local community – having worked with the Chamber of Commerce, to WIRES – her dedication to the local community extends visually into her artwork – where her works move from local icons, bush and urbanscapes; to vistas from her road travels.
Jane can be seen hurtling along in her little van with her two poodles – visiting out west or up and down the coast. Jane works in various ways – but the constant is always sketch book and camera in easy reach.
Jane has been painting for 7 years – and she first came to notice in the mountains community for her trademark linocuts.
Her passion for architecture is prevalent in her works. And like architecture, she lays down strong foundations in her drawings before applying inks or paint. Her works encompass geometry and the arabesque, which lend themselves to her paintings, pochoir and linocuts. Her use of black is strong; and so too her oft-found technique of painting “en plein air”. As the Impressionists, Jane is interested in the play of light and shadow, often specific to seasons and times of day.
“My background as a graphic designer and years of absorbing from different influences, whether it’s the ink on the printer’s mixing table that I had to stop myself sticking my hand right into; my obsession with architecture, or growing up surrounded by my father’s art – it all comes out in different ways in my work. Sadly, it was after the passing of my father, that I felt the urge to pick up oils. I think that starting my career in painting a little older, has combined to give me the confidence to follow a style that may not have been there earlier in my life.
“Another tipping point for me, were my trips to France and Japan; being exposed to artists past and present.
“I am enthusiastic about many things… architecture, design, other artists, past and present; places, lights and smells. Discovery and re-discovery are for me wonderful aspects of life – be it a new artist, finding a new place to paint, or revisiting a place in a different time of day or season.
“I am inspired by peaceful places and areas of human habitation that we sometimes discount as not attractive. I am inspired by the work of the Impressionists, the Fauve Movement, the Art Deco, and the Japanese style, in particular of the Ukiyoe prints of Kawase Hasui; and the Australian women artists of the 20s to 40s.”
Jane has exhibited out west, through the mountains and to Sydney; she has works in collections nationally and internationally.
Queenscliff streetscape 46x92cm