I have been around various art forms for as long as I can remember. I enjoy the introspective qualities that are demanded from creating artwork. I often struggle with my internal thoughts, doubts, and fear of people. When I work at creating something I let all of those negative feedback loops dissipate, and I can finally focus on being present in my work. Art is where I find mindfulness. I hope my work conveys some sense of peace. I think we could all benefit from it.
I have an obsession around symmetry, rotational objects, and experimentation with colors. My process starts with creating a digital drawing that I can zoom in and out which allows for endless combinations of images to be created within it. With the goal to have an image that a viewer can enjoy lots of mini moments of observation during their experience. Hoping that when someone is looking at a painting they can pause and be present for however long they wish to be. I primarily use acrylic paint due to its fast drying qualities. I’m forced to make decisions and stick with them. Allowing me to stay focus and not second guess. I often refer to my paintings as my psychedelic garden because of their ability to feel endless.
My name is Jaana, this name is not to be confused with whatever pronunciation you were previously thinking, it is pronounced yawn-a, if you have finished reading this sentence I want to celebrate your ability to read and digest information. That last part is meant to be humorous. Imagine a smile and a giggle or two. I know my name isn’t exactly easy in English. It’s a northern European name with 2 a’s that everyone I have met think’s is a typo. It is spelt with 2 A’s, no I did not not pick this name. It was given to me by my parents. I tend to make jokes about having North American identity issues due to being born in Canada (super different right?), and growing up in the United States. It's so silly, it has always made me feel like a tourist in whatever environment I have been inhabiting at the time. I have a constant internal need to observe and adapt to the space around me. It can cause a lot of introspection in my mind.