Biography

Jan Verdieck grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, daughter of a painter and scientist. She was greatly influenced by her father’s impressionistic and abstract paintings, experimental nature and the popularity of arts and crafts in the 70’s.  She was happiest using her imagination and making things. After practicing Occupational Therapy for 8 years, she looked back on her industrious youth and realized that her need to create is essential and her drive for innovation has no limits. She studied painting and design at the Bemis Art School in Colorado Springs, CO with a resulting show at the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center. She further honed her talent at professional artist workshops in Seattle and the S.F. Bay Area. Verdieck has now been experimenting with her medium for years and is committed to push limits with every painting. She uses a wide range of tools and techniques to capture her vibrant impressions of every day life. Since her move to Oregon in 1998, she has exhibited primarily in Northwest galleries and juried exhibitions. In 2009, she is returning to Occupational Therapy and is looking forward to experiencing how her time with her patients will inspire her art and what her creative habit will bring to her treatment sessions.

     Statement

I capture modern life, hoping for a glimpse of the human spirit in the midst of our fast-paced times. I get a kick out of drawing attention to the often overlooked and try to bring out its essence in a way that hasn’t been done before. I often use my own photographs to help me organize my vision, inspire original compositions, and tune into key elements of a subject. Layering acrylic paints, I can effect change rapidly, keeping the process spontaneous and full of energy. I express myself freely, trusting my intuition, even if the painting moves in a different direction. I enjoy determining what is essential to getting my point across, whether it is from a design or emotional perspective. When my paintings are significant to others, it is truly a magical connection.