Jane Grant-Abban - About the Artist

A Life-Long Journey

I grew up in England and moved to Wales where I studied then lived for 22 years. In 2006 I moved with my husband and two sons to Stillwater, Minnesota. Growing up, I loved to paint and sketch and my studies included art history, which provided me with the opportunity to visit some world-renowned galleries and study the paintings of past masters firsthand. Although I left art studies behind to obtain degrees in both business and teaching, I still felt a strong pull to paint.
Upon moving to Minnesota, I was able to really give myself to the formal and dedicated study of painting in oils. I am now a member of the Oil Painters Of America and enjoying the challenge of my artistic journey.
As an artist I am continually taught, inspired, and challenged by the study of master painters past and present.There have been, and continue to be, many wonderful painters in the world, but that should not keep any one of us from expressing ourselves creatively and uniquely. That is our personal privilege and responsibility. To not paint because there are already great painters is like not singing because there are great singers, or not cooking because there are great chefs. Each of us has something to give creatively to the world around us.
My creative expression also involves writing. What I paint inspires what I write, and sometimes what I write inspires what I paint. But either way it comes from real human experience in this life. I paint and write to communicate the beauty and truths behind whatever the subject matter, no matter how commonplace. When a finished painting hangs on someone’s wall, I wants it to have the ability to attract and intrigue not just the eye of the beholder, but the heart. It should not be just pleasing to the eye, but refreshing to the heart. It should not just capture the ‘atmosphere’ of the subject matter, but acquire a place in the heart of the observer. Living in the beautiful St Croix Valley, traveling in Africa, working at a leper colony in India, and being a wife and mother, have all played their part in influencing my work. Every part of our humanity, especially the seasons of our lives, can be the harvest-field for our creativity. Through all the seasons of life I desire to learn and grow both as a person and a painter.The two are inseparable. This is a lifelong journey.

www.abbanart.com

* figurative * landscape * still life * commissions * lessons *

2012

2012 Arts In Harmony, Elk River. International juried art show.

2012 March 1-31 Sky Blue Waters. Group Show, Stillwater

2012 Jan 5-Feb 39 Inspire. An exhibit of Works by Jane Grant-Abban and her Youth Art Students at AbbanArt Academy, Stillwater Public Library

2011

2011 September. Judge for Stillwater Fine Arts Festival, Stillwater MN 2011

2011 August-November. Invitational group show The Artistry of Trees

2011 July, August. Annual Members Show, Art Reach Alliance, Stillwater, MN

2011 May 20th . Interview with Alan Ross, Spectrum West, Wisconsin Public Radio.

2011 May. Feature Artist Abode Gallery, Stockholm, WI

2011 May. Feature Artist, Art Resources Gallery, Edina, MN

2011 Poetry Book “From Heart to Hand”

2011 Founder and Teacher Abbanart Academy, Stillwater, MN

2011 Solo Exhibit ‘The Stockholm Series’, Abode Gallery, Stockholm WI,

May 13-15th

2011 Book “The Stockholm Series”

2011 Primavera Art Show (juried entry) portrait

2011 Primavera Art Show (juried entry) still life

2011 Primavera Art Show (juried entry) mixed media

2011 First Place Super Gold Category (professional) Artists of Minnesota Show

2011 ‘At The Lake’. Group exhibit. Kelley Gallery Art & Frame, Hudson. April 1-30

2011 Solo Exhibit ‘Discover’ Lakeview Hospital, Stillwater, April 1-30

2011 Northern Lights Art Show, White Bear. Juried entry. April/May .

2011 Arts In Harmony Fine Art Show, Elk River .Group exhibit. Juried Entry. Feb/March

2011 ‘For the Birds’. Group exhibit. Stillwater Art Guild Gallery. March1- April 25.

2011 ‘Incarnation’. Group Exhibit. Gallery of Gospel Art, Stillwater

2011 Judge for Da Vinci Fest, Stillwater.

2010

2010 Solo Exhibition ‘Response’. Inaugural artist at the Gallery of Gospel Art, Stillwater, Minnesota

2010 “Painters Paint Poetry”, White Pine Festival. Shown at Alesci Gallery, Stillwater. One of nine artists juried to paint in response to a selected poem (Stephen Spenders “I think Continually”), then displayed as part of the White Pine Festival.

2010 Artists of Minnesota- Best of Show

2010 Artists of Minnesota - First Place

2010 Artists of Minnesota - Award of Merit

2009

2009 Solo Exhibition ‘Pauses with Pen and Paint’, Stillwater.

2009 Book “Pauses with Pen and Paint”. A book of paintings and poetry.

2009 Artists of Minnesota- Award of Merit (Portrait)

2009 Artists of Minnesota- Award of Merit (Landscape)

2008

2008 Primavera Fine Art Show, Minnesota. Portrait (juried entry)

2008 Primavera Fine Art Show, Minnesota. Landscape.(juried entry)

2008 Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Show (juried entry)

Jane Grant-Abban ť About the Artist

A Life-Long Journey