Second Place Award of Excellence

The San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild

A Walk Through Nature

Membership Exhibition
Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors Center Gallery, 
Live and online from June 17 through July 27, 2023.

Juror:  Artist Keiko Tanabe

Congratulations to our

Second Place Award of Excellence Winner 

Janet Lee

 Janet was awarded the second place

for her 18x24” Photograph 

Golden State Palm.

About Janet:

I grew up in the rural outskirts of a textiles town in the heart of Yorkshire, England, where Gothic architecture and Victorian industrialism co-exist in a scenic tapestry of ancient natural forms and textures.  My artistic statement is that of strength, expressionistic distortion, texture, and balance; a chiaroscuro of light and dark, delicate yet bold, organic natural forms juxtaposed with urban architectural decay.

My first glimpse of artistic genius was in an exhibition in Strasbourg, France. Leon Bakst designed the costumes for Nijinsky in the Ballets Russes. Picasso, Matisse, Benois and Kandinsky were commissioned by artistic director, Sergei Diaghilev.  I was so impressed that at age 17 I applied to my local Art College and was accepted on a two year Foundation & Graphics course. On this course I was introduced to silk screen, lithography, typography and intaglio print methods which is where my interest gravitated rather than painting and graphic design. I also strengthened my drawing skills, being taught classical methods by old school professors. Several of my later etchings were of Nijinsky and other expressive dancers. After a further three year Visual Communications course at Aston University in Birmingham, U.K., I attained my Bachelor of Arts degree.

I worked in London, traveled in Europe, and lived in Kenya before settling in
San Diego in 1977 where I continued to pursue a career in art.  In 1984, I took courses in Printmaking at S.D.S.U. I was also working alongside interior designer Michael Hogue in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, where we designed commercial interiors and art in public spaces. Over several years I was commissioned to create canvases, 3D multi-media paintings, murals, borders, and faux finishes for hotels, restaurants, cathedrals, theaters and Seaworld.

In 190 I moved to the classroom, where I helped develop the art curriculum and taught classes at Lemon Grove Arts Complex. I was awarded a grant to teach art to fifth grade students at Monterrey Heights Elementary School. During the summer of 1990 I was also asked to teach College for Kids printmaking at Grossmont College in La Mesa. In 1992 I taught Science Adventures, an enrichment program serving several San Diego schools. My aim was to open new windows of perception, and through selective decision-making, help the students to explore and develop their own personal style of expression and invention.

Recently I have returned my focus to creating a cohesive body of work. I took a master class at the University of York in order to study the techniques of medieval painting on glass.  I intend to continue exploring the possibilities of this ancient technique and would like to teach this rare art form. My goal for now is to show my full portfolio of intaglio etchings, paintings, medieval paintings on glass, photography and drawings in galleries and art museums.

Although Yorkshire is deeply ingrained in my psychological make-up, San Diego has allowed me to snap into sharp focus these two diametrically opposite influences, which together form my personal perspective and aesthetic direction.

Important exhibitions I have been juried into:

In the 1970s as an art student I was juried into a show at the Haymarket, London and the Parc de Vincennes, Paris. I have been juried into several local San Diego gallery exhibitions and many times into the Del Mar Fair Fine Art and Photography exhibitions where I have won numerous awards. My farthest stretch was to show five pieces (three etchings and two drawings) in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, in 2018 and again in 2020.

About Golden State Palm:

In my garden stands a majestic palm, the fibers of which I have used in my  3D paintings. As the fronds are trimmed, the golden, mahogany fibers peel off in sheets. They are too beautiful to throw away, but I can't keep them all.

On a beautiful Spring day in 2023, I photographed the palm fibers as they were beginning to peel away. The range of textures and natural golden hues, from yellows and oranges to mahogany browns and black presented themselves as a rich abstract image which begged to be photographed. Printed on 13x19 Epson Extra Premium Photo paper luster.

Google Website:  https://j-k-lee.com