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

Janna, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

My very first transaction for my artwork was a childhood friend who I grew up with in Utah. We have not seen each other in decades, yet we are able to keep in touch through social media. How that purchase came about is when I began sharing my art piece on my social media account. My friend reached out to me inquiring about a commission piece for her home. I don’t think she knows that she was my first patron and first commissioned client. How amazing is that!!! I was tickled that she wanted to purchase a commissioned art piece for her home.

Janna, 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?

Those who follow me on my social media know that I’ve had breast cancer, which resulted in a double mastectomy in early 2016. I’ve shared some experiences regarding this journey within my social media circle. But what they don’t know or may not understand is the difficulty I had processing the traumatizing life event. Every three to six months required visits to my oncologist over the past seven years. The not so “routine” oncology visits became routine. Sitting in doctor’s offices became my new normal life routine. Depending on the test I was having would determine when I would be back in the doctor’s office to have yet another test. I struggled emotionally, the anger, the fear, the sadness of losing a part of myself, which at the time I felt defined who I was. My husband Dave has always been a tremendous strength that I was able to lean on. He is such a calm, patient and understanding man. Dave has a beautiful way of turning a negative situation into a positive outlook. After twelve years together he has such an intriguingly wise observations which has helped relieve my grieving for the loss of my two saggy sisters. Dave was the spark that led to my quest to find something to occupy my thoughts as he kept suggesting searching for something that I could immerse myself in. In early 2021 while browsing through YouTube I ran across a Fluid Artist, shortly after consuming this fascinating acrylic painting technique, I purchase my first “fluid acrylic” set.
Fluid Art has been a gateway for me to exploring other forms of Abstract artwork. I’ve added mixed media to my creative journey which has opened other avenues to explore. Abstract art is such a fascinating painting technique, it’s all about the layers of colors and its markings the artist creates. What I absolutely love about this painting process is the uniqueness that only the artist can create, replication is tricky, because it involves an intuitive thought process. In my artwork I reference the environment I’ve seen throughout my week as I travel around the state of Arizona for my Fire Life Safety job. Many of my art pieces are inspired or influenced by the beautiful state of Arizona that I have called home for the past twenty years. The vibrant colorful vines, the gnarled tree branches of the Mesquite and Palo Verde trees, the majestic cloud formations in the big open Arizona skies and the gusting winds that bend and sway everything in its pathway.
The creative art world has been a refuge, a sanctuary since I began painting two and half years ago. It has held a space to process my health traumas. My only wish is that I had discover fluid art much sooner, as no amount of professional therapy could have ever healed my soul the way art has. As a matter of fact, I would probably still be sitting in my therapist office hashing out those traumas today, if it were not for the happenstance way, I found fluid art. The last two- and half-year art has been a healing journey that opened a door to myself expression.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The absolute most rewarding part about creating my artwork is being able to share it with others. It is having the opportunity to talk with people who have similar interests and those who have an appreciation for art. Those who appreciate an artist I see them as an individual who may understand me just a bit.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

People can support, by simply engaging on social media post by asking questions about the process what it took to creating the piece of artwork that piques your interest, sharing the artist artwork when it has been posted on social media and giving the artist a shout out as to why you like their work. By doing this it helps the crazy social media algorithms to put the artist or whoever at the top of the pack instead of being buried below the millions of others who are posting. If people are not on social media, you can share my webpage by emailing or texting it to people you know who may enjoy abstract artwork. Also, the most meaningful for me is when I get the unexpected visitors that attend an exhibit or an art fair just to say hello makes my day!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.artpal.com/jannablackburn
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jannablackburnartstudio
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jannablackburnartstudio