Comments on: The painting “Culture Shock”

By: Nancy Christensen

Nancy Christensen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:21:30 +0000

Jan, your paintings are ethereally and viscally alive and very beautiful… The first one you posted here looked like a prim ballerina sitting with an airy fringe hem, waiting to be invited to perform. When you invited the muse, she became pulsingly exultant! I love your paintings and share your delicious enjoyment of oil paint.
Your paintings have a psychologically satisfying presence. When I do portraits, I also enjoy the transformation of a “face” to a window to an infinite spirit during the portrait sitting. Thanks for sharing your process.

By: janbetts

janbetts — Sun, 08 May 2011 19:06:44 +0000

Thank you Vivian….yes it is very different….and to see it with new eyes many years later is quite an interesting journey…all sorts of new Seeings are happening on many fronts of late….fun!

By: Vivian

Vivian — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:16:08 +0000

This painting is such a huge departure from your usual art. Very Picassoesque! I like it! How cool that you can look back and see this painting with a new relevance.

By: janbetts

janbetts — Tue, 03 May 2011 19:35:17 +0000

Interesting….i also just got an understanding of that image that i didn’t have when i painted it. Much clarity has developed in the years since then. I am looking at my art with new eyes….and as another speaks to me…i will post it!
Thank you so much Karima for your encouragement and support.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Tue, 03 May 2011 18:08:35 +0000

It is usually hard to find knowledgeable persons with this matter, nevertheless, you sound like you are aware of exactly what you are writing on! Thank you

By: Karima

Karima — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 19:35:54 +0000

Well as you know Jan, I have seen this painting in Real Life many times and was always struck with the vivid difference in your style on this one. I saw and felt the general feeling of total upheaval and a breaking point, and yet I didn’t see until your comment, the clear symbolism in it, the rainbow, the veil, the scream. It always was a powerful image, from the strong bright colors you chose, to the technique of much more abstract rendering of the main figure(so different from the detailed super-real goddesses) and now years later, I can see in it, what you also see,the reaching of “the point of no return” as you call it, a moment of extreme pain and yet of brilliant transformation. I so enjoyed reading your words(the artist’s words) on how now in retrospect you see your own symbolism. Thank you for sharing this beautiful and thought-provoking painting.