We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janelle Frampton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janelle below.

Janelle, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Every piece of work I create is meaningful for me in its own way. It takes an immense amount of energy and effort into creating what you envision, that you can’t deny that you put a piece of yourself into that work, in an almost literal sense. I’m proud of all the work I’ve created, but as far as being the most meaningful…I’d have to say it’s a painting that I created after my father passed a few years ago.

Not only was it a creation, but it was also an experience…a grieving process. I remember creating a space on my back porch with everything I needed, along with a blank canvas. It was July, so the weather was beautiful. My creative space sat high above the hillside and overlooked tall pines.

I spent many mornings and evenings adding small parts to create a final product based on feeling. I depicted a scene of Sedona, which is a place that my family has cherished through the generations. It is a place of serenity and healing; therefore, it created a way for me to process my grief.

There were many nights that I would just sit and stare at the canvas, letting it come together with what I felt. On one evening in particular, I sat there stumped at how to proceed, and decided to take a break. Once it began to get dark, there was this beautiful vibrant orange and pink sunset.

The light was on in my kitchen at the time and the light shown through the blinds onto the canvas outside, creating a line of soft cloudlike silhouettes across the skyline of the painting I was working on. I then used these silhouettes as a marker and was able to create clouds, and then the rest came together as that being the centerpiece. There’s inspiration in everything, we just have to look hard enough.

Janelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’d say I’m a hobbyist of art. Specifically painting, and photography. I prefer to work at my own pace, and creating imagery that I can connect to and produce. Whether that be with painting or photography. I’ve attempted to make it a business, but it did not bring that same passion for me. I enjoy creating a story and bringing it to life.

I’ve been painting and doing photography since about 2004. Born and raised in Arizona, a lot of my inspiration comes from the diversity of this state in all ways. The places, people, and things all have their uniquity. For generations my family has had similarities in the arts. Whether it be painting, photography, or performance.

You can be the creator of anything you could possibly imagine. So in particular, I feel the process of envisioning a creation is probably my most cherished part of the whole process, and then the product is the reward. You gain a sense of accomplishment, of making something that is your own. It really is the best feeling. Bringing things to completion is a proud moment.

My art is more abstract or stylized, and I try to keep my areas of interest broad. I remember at one time I received a comment about my art, and it stated that I should choose a genre of work and stick with it. Someone that I had never worked with, created any work for…a complete stranger that was only an observer from the outside…

Why should there by limits to what you create? Why should there be a definitive style or design to your workflow? I don’t agree with that. Then you begin to conform to what others want you to create, and that is a very easy trap to fall into because you want to please. You want a sense that what you are creating is worthy and appreciated.

But falling into that will only lead you to dissatisfaction in your work, a lack of passion, and therefore a diminishing in your quality of work because your heart and soul is not there. I feel that I am most expressive in the arts and writing. It provides me a sense of pause, and the ability to relay thought processes, and organization more genuinely.

Ultimately, I want to create art that gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride. The bonus is in that it makes others feel the same way. That they too, are inspired in their own ways. Whether that be in creating, following a passion, making that leap of faith, getting out of a rut. No matter what it is, it is a sense of productivity, and maybe even a little sense of self.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I feel the best possible thing that society can do to support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem is to put understanding into the entirety of the creative process. There is a lot of behind the scene actions that occur that takes a lot of energy and effort from the artist. Not a lot of credit is given to the whole process of it. Usually the public only associates with the finished product not realizing the undertaking that goes into the creative process.

Support your artists, especially your local ones. Support them in ways that can be both beneficial and symbiotic to both you and the artist. It is a two-way street. Understand their boundaries. Artists tend to burn out when they start losing sight of their passions for their envisioned ideas, and begin creating from the ideas that may not be their own unless it’s genuinely mutual and not expected.

Bringing a thought to materialization is a time consuming process, mentally, financially, and physically. Don’t let the expectation of providing services be the precursor in any time you reach out to your artist friend or companion, or in inviting them to your gatherings or events. Be genuine in not taking advantage in this aspect.
As always, support success and growth. Praise accomplished goals, and define failures as learning curves.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Network with fellow creatives! That has been my greatest regret in my early days; is not communicating and speaking with other artists more. Not only do you gain a sense of acceptance and inspiration with others with the same goals and desires as you, but you can learn a lot about yourself as well. Research different styles of art, and different mediums.

You are NOT bound to any style! Do as you please, and create from your own inspirations, and you will find you gain the most satisfaction in what you produce because you have an attachment to it.

Go outside! Nature is the best inspiration you could ever get anywhere else. Capture a moment in time, whatever it may be that inspires you.

Contact Info:

• Website: VenturesandVirtues.com
• Instagram: Janelle Frampton Photography
• Facebook: Janelle Frampton Photography
• Twitter: JFramptonPhoto