Carol Janda chosen to create 14th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival poster
Second time the peninsula artist’s work has represented the festival
Eight years ago, the poster selected for the annual Sequim Lavender Festival turned out to be one of the most popular and one of the best sellers. That particular poster, painted by North Olympic Peninsula artist Carol Janda, inspired the Sequim Lavender Festival committee to commission Janda to create a new piece for the 2010 festival.
Janda decided on a watercolor showing a person cutting lavender in a field of the plants.
“The first one was an oil,” said Janda, a member of the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim. “But I’m mainly a watercolorist.”
The poster will be available for sale and will be printed on this year’s festival buttons and t-shirts.
Although Janda’s first love is pottery — “part of my art activities since childhood” —, she creates paintings that depict the local landscape of mountains, seascapes and flowers. Her work can be seen at the Clallam Art Gallery in Port Angeles and at the Blue Whole Gallery.
Janda began painting in 1970 while living in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Originally from Maryland, she graduated from Frostburg University and taught in public schools in Maryland, Montana and Alaska.
“The spectacular landscape and isolation of Yellowstone and Glacier Bay encouraged me to study watercolor through books and practice,” she said.
In 1978, Janda and her husband moved to Coulee Dam in eastern Washington, where she studied with Del Gish, a modern western impressionist. Since she has studied with several teachers and has, in fact, taught watercolor and given workshops herself.
Several years ago her husband, who is with the National Park Service, was transferred to the Olympic National Park.
Janda said she particularly enjoys living on the North Olympic Peninsula because it reminds of her of Alaska.
Many of her paintings of the past 10 years have been scenes from Olympic National Park and the peninsula.
Janda is a signature member of North West Watercolor Society, a member of Clallam Art Gallery and Sequim Arts and is one of the directors of Clallam Art Gallery. She teaches watercolor for the Peninsula College continuing education program.
“I enjoy teaching watercolor and participating in the Blue Whole Art Gallery and Waterfront Art Gallery activities,” Janda said.
Janda is a featured artist at the Blue Whole Gallery, 120 W. Washington St,, Friday, April 2, as part of the Sequim First Friday Artwalk. The 2010 Sequim Lavender Festival poster painted by Janda will be on display.
Visit Janda’s Web site at claythingsplus.com. For a studio appointment call 360-452-6356.