JANNA ZUBER

About the Artist

A native Marylander, Janna graduated from the University of Maryland College of Applied Design in 1974. She put food on the table and husband through law school by teaching multiple grades in a private school. Then the family came - when the last of the 5 kids entered kindergarten she took her first watercolor class and was smitten by the passion to paint. Over the past 20 years she has studied under multiple teachers: Irene Sylvester, Fritz Briggs, Frank Webb, Tara Funk Grimm, Skip Lawrence to name but a few. Her biggest "break" was in 2004 when she was invited to join the West River Artist Group - a dedicated group of artist that meet weekly to paint and critique each others works. Her earlier works in watercolor and oils were traditional landscapes and florals. As life evolves so has her art and now she is game to try most anything! But it involves reaching much deeper into herself and what she has learned in/from life. She finds it far more challenging (and satisfying) to start by creating chaos and then creating order, tho will still do one "traditional" painting every now and again.A native Marylander, Janna graduated from the University of Maryland College of Applied Design in 1974. She put food on the table and husband through law school by teaching multiple grades in a private school. Then the family came - when the last of the 5 kids entered kindergarten she took her first watercolor class and was smitten by the passion to paint. Over the past 20 years she has studied under multiple teachers: Irene Sylvester, Fritz Briggs, Frank Webb, Tara Funk Grimm, Skip Lawrence to name but a few. Her biggest "break" was in 2004 when she was invited to join the West River Artist Group - a dedicated group of artist that meet weekly to paint and critique each others works. Her earlier works in watercolor and oils were traditional landscapes and florals. As life evolves so has her art and now she is game to try most anything! But it involves reaching much deeper into herself and what she has learned in/from life. She finds it far more challenging (and satisfying) to start by creating chaos and then creating order, tho will still do one "traditional" painting every now and again.

Artist's Statement

Janna D. Zuber, a 1974 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Housing and Applied Design, likens painting to cooking – seemingly limitless textures, colors, flavors and subjects, each bidding for some new frontier to be crossed. Her style, she concedes, is as varied as her drawer full of kitchen spices. And every day, every new project – like preparing a meal – offers an opportunity to do and taste something different. Nearly 30 years of creating works of art – in fabric, clay, metal, paper, and paint, on furniture, walls, paper and canvas – has given Janna the courage to find her own artistic voice and style, from the dictates of her heart, rather than strict adherence to one style, medium or media. She admits to the same boldness in the kitchen, which, with a little luck, she can create something exquisitely sumptuous and delectable that may never be repeated. Janna’s large family and her travels and favorite activities provide some of the elemental ingredients in her artwork. They are brought to life under the constant flame of music, which as any cook knows is a core factor in any dish. Then she uses watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, collaging, oil pastels or any combination of them to create her diverse collection of artwork. She will often ask herself, “What if? or, Why not?” when creating a work. Few works leave her studio without layers of paint, glazes or collaged papers often tied together with rhythmical line. Janna lives with her husband, daughter and needy flower gardens in Mitchellville, Maryland. When time allows, she plays the hammered dulcimer.Janna D. Zuber, a 1974 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Housing and Applied Design, likens painting to cooking – seemingly limitless textures, colors, flavors and subjects, each bidding for some new frontier to be crossed. Her style, she concedes, is as varied as her drawer full of kitchen spices. And every day, every new project – like preparing a meal – offers an opportunity to do and taste something different. Nearly 30 years of creating works of art – in fabric, clay, metal, paper, and paint, on furniture, walls, paper and canvas – has given Janna the courage to find her own artistic voice and style, from the dictates of her heart, rather than strict adherence to one style, medium or media. She admits to the same boldness in the kitchen, which, with a little luck, she can create something exquisitely sumptuous and delectable that may never be repeated. Janna’s large family and her travels and favorite activities provide some of the elemental ingredients in her artwork. They are brought to life under the constant flame of music, which as any cook knows is a core factor in any dish. Then she uses watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, collaging, oil pastels or any combination of them to create her diverse collection of artwork. She will often ask herself, “What if? or, Why not?” when creating a work. Few works leave her studio without layers of paint, glazes or collaged papers often tied together with rhythmical line. Janna lives with her husband, daughter and needy flower gardens in Mitchellville, Maryland. When time allows, she plays the hammered dulcimer.