On a beautiful summer day in Golden Gate Park, I fell in love with painting nature. The year was 1987. I was mesmerized by the microscopic play of shadow, light, shape, color and form. The longer

I observed and painted, the more the world stood still. And the more joy I experienced.

 To this day, capturing life in action energizes and infuses my work. In my travels, at social gatherings, just about anywhere I find myself – I bring out my sketchbook to capture the moment. By good fortune, I’ve traveled to many exotic places – Egypt, Turkey, Croatia, Indonesia to name but a few. Women washing clothes in a spring in a tiny Spanish village, whirling dervishes in Istanbul, a musician at an open mike — each drawing tells a story.

I also paint commissioned murals and portraits. Recently I completed a series of twenty-six murals featuring 1950’s storefronts for senior living facilities in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Learning, for me, is a lifelong experience. I’ve sampled many art styles and movements and most recently have discovered that classical realism hits a deep chord. My still life paintings contain a co-mingling of natural forms and collectable art objects. Whether portraits, figure, landscape or still life, creating art is a passion that keeps me tightly in its grip. I hope the viewer will absorb a sense of the beauty and joy that inspires me.

For more information, please visit www.janicewagner.com.