Janis Kirstein

JANIS KIRSTEIN

Meditation and the creative act of making art for me is a way of life, a way of seeing, and a way of reaching and maintaining wakefulness and awareness. 

Recent Painting

Detail of “Wham-O,” 48″ x 56,” Mixed Media Collage on stretched canvas by Janis Kirstein, 2019.
“Wham-O,” 48″ x 56,” Mixed Media Collage on stretched canvas by Janis Kirstein, 2019.

By Artist Jan Kirstein 

Perceptions

I am an American contemporary artist and writer working primarily with mixed media. My paintings and collage work juxtapose diverse imagery to explore ideas of emerging fragmentation and reconstruction through fluctuating recognition and realization. These perceptions then can transform into a meaningful and unified whole.

Movement through brushwork, markings and layered, open passages lead the viewer on a journey of discovery, enabling the creation of a myriad of associations and insights. Through observing the relationships of applied materials to a surface, layers of seemingly random associations can merge into realization, recognition and insight.

My materials often include Sumi e Ink, Calligraphy brushes, charcoal, pastel, watercolor, acrylic and a variety of papers including Japanese rice paper and canvas.

I have been greatly influenced by artists from the past. Matisse has influenced and inspired my love of brilliant color and its interactions. I have also been greatly inspired by the expressive paintings of the abstract expressionists such as Helen Frankenthaler for her bold and sensitive use of organic poured paint shapes, by Franz Kline for his stark use of diagonal bold lines and stark contrast and by Robert Rauschenberg for his unique juxtaposition of cultural icons into a variety of assembled collages.

To see my new website of Kirstein Paintings and Giclee Archival Prints go here.

To see KIRSTEINFINEART RETAIL go here.

Copyright © 2019 Janis Kirstein. All rights reserved.

Testimonials

  • Shout out to Janis Kirstein who created the design for this lovely tote. The design reminds me of the Holy Spirit so it’s become the bag I tote to church with all my church gear! 

    Sharon Kutz-Mellem, Presbyterian Ministersharon bag

    Sharon Kutz-Mellem, Presbyterian Minister, Louisville, Kentucky

  • Jay Kratz says about the Kirsteinfineart  new website: This is great, Jan ! I love that you’ve managed to leverage technology while maintaining your authenticity as an artist and educator. Your work has continued to evolve in a very rich way. Keep posting all of your cool work and Congrats on staying current, purposeful and innovative. This is so inspirational to us “want to be” artists with credibility and validation! Jay Kratz is the Director of Real Estate Development at Price Hill Will and Owner at JAK and Associates Design, LLC

    Jay Kratz, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • I really enjoyed looking at your work.  I am impressed that you can work in so many formats, but you intuitively understand how it is all related. Your abstract paintings are my favorites–they remind me a little of Twombly and Gorky.

     

    Leslie Anglin, Artist

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