We recently connected with Jana and have shared our conversation below.

Jana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Just before I turned 50, after a period of declining health, I was overwhelmed with thoughts of what mark I was leaving on the world, what was I really contributing to it, and what was my purpose for the remainder of my life? I had a new urgent need to create art every day and to find a way to share it with others.

My mixed media art is created with the spirit of giving and uplifting and is the way that I can best help others and make a tiny difference in our world. It’s my ongoing “Happy Mail Project.” My small originals are gifted to others to encourage and bring joy, and every so often, I sell a series for charities that are important to me. I sell prints of my work, and occasionally larger originals, in order to purchase postage and more art supplies to support and continue this Happy Mail Project.

My pieces are usually filled with nature especially flowers, birds, and butterflies, and frequently feature children that are full of curiosity and wonder about our world, always interacting with it. I call them “Happy Collages” and they represent the world that I dream of living in – peaceful, colorful and fun, where life is simpler, happier, and free of pain. They are scenes that form in my imagination as I put the pieces of the art together.

I feel like this is truly my purpose in life, and that I was given this artistic passion in order to help others in their creativity, promote love and generosity, and add tiny bits of positivity and beauty to our increasingly difficult world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have lived my whole life in North Carolina, meeting my soulmate at age 39. (It’s never too late for love!) Together, we raised four kids, now adults, and began adopting senior dogs to give them a loving home in their last years. (We are currently on numbers 6 and 7.) I have several chronic illnesses including EDS, a degenerative connective tissue disorder, and am caregiver to my youngest grown child who suffers from it as well. Art has become a welcome escape from living in constant pain, and has given me renewed purpose in what I create after becoming a full time artist in 2015.

I fill my personal world and my art with color and whimsy, living the hashtag #liveinfullcolor. I create mostly mixed media collages, frequently using hand painted and gelli printed papers of all kinds, and pulling images from my extensive collection of vintage children’s books and nature guides bought secondhand. I love that the beautiful images in these books are given new life in my work, taken off the shelves of thrift shops and vintage stores, and brought into the light to fresh eyes. These images work in my art to create new scenes and wordless stories that provide me, and so many others, an escape from physical pain and the heaviness of daily life.

I share my art daily on Instagram, and call myself THE Spread Art Love Girl, where I am part of a huge, welcoming and supportive creative community. Finding my tribe there has helped me find myself in the second half of my life, and make real life friends with artists all over the US and the world. This guides how I uses social media, specifically Instagram, and I spend my time there not only finding inspiration and beauty, but interacting with others through replies, comments and messages, and developing true relationships with other artists and my supporters. I try to read the full posts of the people I follow there, intentionally looking for those that could use encouragement or some happy art in their mailboxes. My followers also send me the names of friends and family who are struggling, grieving, lonely or ill, asking if I will send my Happy Mail to them. Creating helps get me through the days, and through this life, and put joy into my soul, and I truly hope that what I make will do the same for others that see my work and those are recipients of it. I believe that one tiny positive action, one small act of generosity, or one little piece of beauty provides a chain reaction of love and hope, and I think we all need so much more of both.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Every person needs reasons to want to get out of bed and go through their day, reasons to want to keep going in this life. We sometimes think our reasons are our jobs or careers, and for those who truly love what they do, that is a valid reason. Some feel that their children are their reasons, and while they’re young, that’s partially true. However, kids grow up and start their own lives and find their own reasons. Jobs and careers don’t last forever for most. I honestly believe that having things that you are passionate about, that come from deep in your soul, that fulfill you and make time disappear when you’re doing them is THE secret to finding inner happiness and finding it for the entire time you’re on this earth.

For those of us who have chronic health conditions, especially ones that cause constant pain, having a reason or a purpose can be life changing, even life saving. When I am making art, I am distracted from my pain. I feel more hopeful and fulfilled. I feel excited that I am adding positivity and beauty to my world. Any creative practice (visual art of any form, crafting, performing arts, gardening and environmental care, cooking and baking, sewing and knitting, photography, writing, storytelling and more) creates something with your body and brain that wasn’t there before. It’s truly magic! These practices foster expression, problem-solving and emotional processing. They make us feel useful, productive, accomplished, and more satisfied. They reduce stress and anxiety, stimulate our brains and benefit our mental health in so many ways. Creativity can continue your entire life, and there’s always something new to explore and make.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I was late to the social media game, joining Instagram to share my art around 2015. As a visual person who loves to look at art and beautiful things, and as an artist who wants my work to be seen, it has been revolutionary. Since I don’t make art for income, I have never needed to market or promote myself or my art there. Instead, my following has truly been built organically, and I recommend this as a main focus for anyone who wants to grow their followers and have their posts seen by more people. I honestly think that mine has grown because I focus so much on sharing and making friends there and growing those relationships. I reply to every comment on my page, I look at the pages of those that like my posts and return the likes and comments, I encourage others by making supportive comments on posts that I like and appreciate, and I work hard to give support to other artists whether they’re just beginning their journey or have been actively benefiting our art community. It’s just as rewarding to me to encourage others as it is to receive a compliment or support. My other important piece of advice is to be genuine and show who you are. Some are very hesitant to show their face or talk about their life, and I can understand that in today’s world. However, if you want others to be interested in you and what you post, to want to buy what you offer, to find friends, or be part of a community, you MUST share and let people get to know you. Otherwise, exactly why are you bothering to have a presence there? It’s been my experience that you get out of it exactly what you put in.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.janasartspace.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janaclinardharris/