Janet Mishner Art

Sarasota Artists

Excavation by Janet Mishner

Janet Mishner Art

Mangroves #2 by Janet Mishner
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Janet Mishner

Janet Mishner Art
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Janet Mishner Art

Janet Mishner Art
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Janet Mishner specializes in large contemporary abstract paintings. She paints in series, evoking feelings, the way an author writes a book of short stories. Each of her series is a theme that she chooses to explore, and the paintings are those stories within the “novel.”

Janet considers her paintings to be visual metaphors. She paints both figuratively and abstractly, and the common theme in all of her work is that inspiration comes from her ideas, not from direct observation. She begins her work spontaneously with a vague idea. From there, she looks to the canvas to direct her. The final phase in her process is to be the “editor” of the painting to ensure that it works as a composition.

IRELAND SERIES
Currently, Janet is working on Ireland series to be displayed at Define Art Gallery. The paintings are based on the trip to Ireland. She loved the countryside, which inspired Janet to create her next masterpieces.

ON AND OFF THE GRID PAINTINGS
“On and Off the Grid” is a series initially inspired by the perimeters of isolation necessitated by the pandemic and the nature of human need for connection, two conflicting ideas. As the pandemic continues, Janet’s interest in grids that represent boundaries and her enjoyment of obliterating them in some way with lines, mark making and shapes, she has continued this series and renamed it from its original “Connection v Isolation.”

Janet is enjoying this self-imposed “rule” followed by playful subversion. Sometime in her childhood, she enjoyed the mischievousness of doing something “bad” while no one was looking. The grid still represents the boundary (parental limits) while the obliteration is the chance to ignore or rebel against them sometimes. As her mentor, Gladys Goldstein said many times, “Just have fun!”

ABSTRACT PAINTINGS
2019 Series: Florida’s Skies. A series of abstract paintings originating in 2019 have been inspired by the skies over Florida’s Suncoast. Janet has observed varying patterns of vertical shadows in the distance, indicating rain, a coming storm. She has been enthralled by the many views of the water in the gulf. Janet cannot hope to emulate any of nature’s magnificence. These paintings are an attempt to represent what she feels, not what she sees. She hopes that these emotions expressed will resonate with the viewer in some way.

DOGS & OTHER PEOPLE
This series is not about a particular breed of dog or anyone’s beloved pet. Being a dog lover and mother of Sadie, as well as the late Rocky and Buster (of blessed memory), she has always been inspired by their expressions of emotion which are obviously non-verbal yet so eloquent. She enjoys representing the projection of human feelings onto the dog, with often humorous results, as well as portraying dogs relating to their humans and to each other. Janet’s art has always come from introspection as opposed to direct observation.

RED BIRD SERIES
The mixed media works in this series are inspired by the symbolism of the red bird. Janet’s mother would see a red bird on the windowsill and insist it had the face of her beloved mother. When my mother passed away, Janet wanted to “feel” her presence by creating a group of paintings that would convey an intimate yet nonverbal conversation. These paintings are a celebration of what will always remain present for her even after a loved one is physically gone.

PLAYGROUND SERIES
This series involves two Janet’s favorite subjects: Psychology and Art. The imagery originates from one of two sources: sometimes a conscious idea that she wants to express, and other times the images stem from what the marks or papers on the canvas suggest to her. Janet proceeds from an introspective point of view as opposed to direct observation. She tries to leave something that a viewer can resonate with in his or her own way.

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS SERIES
The theme of flowers in vases is not an original idea. What makes these collages unique for Janet is the pleasure of mixing patterns, and the personality of each of the vases. She has also incorporated a collaged “frame” as an integral part of each piece. Janet’s influences for these works range from the Moroccan works of Henri Matisse, Persian miniatures, and the broken ceramic mosaics of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017 – “Red Bird & Friends” Solo Exibition, Art Uptown Gallery, Sarasota FL
2015 – Solo Exhibition, Players Theatre Gallery, Sarasota
2014 – Selby Gallery Room, Women’s Resource Center, Sarasota
2013 – Soma Creekside, Dancing Crane Gallery of Fine Art
2006 – Harmony Art Gallery – Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota, FL
2005 – Venice Women’s Resource Center, Venice, FL
2003 – Hagan’s Gallery and Framing, Lakewood Ranch, FL

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022

Women Contemporary Artists Juried Spring Exhibition, Ringling College of Art, Stuhlberg Gallery
Petticoat Painters Spring Exhibition, Ringling College of Art, Willis Smith Gallery

2019

Florida’s Finest Annual Juried Exhibition, Art Center Sarasota, FL
3FOR3, Three Artists Pop-up Exhibition at Henry Ford Art and Antiques, Sarasota, FL
INTRO 2, Juried Exhibition at Gaze Modern Gallery, Sarasota FL
Florida Artists Group 67^thAnnual Juried Symposium Exhibition, Sarasota FL

2018

Big Arts, Sanibel Island, FL
Petticoat Painters Exhibition at RIngling College of Art
Art Center Sarasota, Juried Exhibition
Women Contemporary Artists Winter Juried Exhibition

2017

Numerous juried exhibitions at Artcenter Sarasota, Selby Gallery Exhibition of Petticoat Painters
WCA Fall and Spring Exhibitions

2016

BLURRED LINES, Art Center Sarasota, Juried Exhibition, *Honorable Mention Award
Florida Artists Group, 66^thAnnual Symposium and Exhibition, Center for the Arts, Bonita Springs, FL
Women Contemporary Artists, Juried Spring Exibition, Art & Frame Gallery, Sarasota, FL

CORPORATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS