Painter new to Spokane Studio Art Tour

Janie Edwards started painting in 2000 when her son gave her a set of watercolors as a gift.

Since then she has taken classes and attended art groups. It was at an art group that she heard about the Spokane Studio Art Tour and decided to participate.

This year the 12th annual tour on Sept. 12-13 includes Edwards’ parklike property as a stop, one of five that feature 38 artists in an array of mediums – pottery, jewelry, baskets, wood turning, textile, photography, acrylic, watercolor, oil, and mixed-media paintings.

This will be Edwards’ first public showing; she has only ever shown her work in the hallways of the theology department at Whitworth University where her recently-retired husband worked as a professor.

Her paintings capture snippets of beauty that surround her. “I paint the familiar and I see beauty everywhere,” she said, “Art is about seeing. My goal is simply to observe and create beauty.”

Her mediums include pen and ink, watercolor, oil, and acrylic paint and her subjects include things found in her garden, architecture, animals, and people like the study of her husband reading the paper as the family dog looks on.

She has plethora of inspiration to draw from in her surroundings like the tree-lined path that leads to grassy areas, two patios, a deck, plenty of vegetation including a thick and productive garden, and habitats for birds and honeybees.

Edwards grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and received a bachelor’s degree in English literature and history from Whitworth. She taught English at a high school in New Jersey and ballroom dancing in North Dakota. Currently, she teaches ballroom dancing at Whitworth and keeps a studio in the art department where she paints and does general studio maintenance including botanical care. She also has a studio in a converted bedroom at her North Side home.

Seven other artists will be at Edwards’ home, setting up displays in her yard. Offerings will include snacks, paintings, cards, painted tiles and granite, jewelry, pottery and henna tattoos. On Saturday, there will be live music by Mary Chavez. Darrell Sullens, Chuck Harmon, Vicki West and Dian Zahner will be hosting the other stops on the map.

“Up until now, I’ve only ever given my work away to family and friends. Art makes a great wedding gift for young couples; they never have any art,” she said.