Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Golden.
Jan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story certainly is not a straight line from point A to point B, but rather a fairly circuitous journey like most people I know. I was raised in the beautiful foothills of the North Carolina mountains where life was simple, very conservative, and there were low expectations of what a woman could achieve or should aspire to be. Going to college wasn’t encouraged, but I was good in school and somehow knew that a degree was something that could help change my life and open up opportunities.
My first ‘real’ job was working retail at Radio Shack where I quickly rose to Manager and was offered a job in a different town…yahoo, I got to move to a big city of population 20,000! I was finally on the road to saving up for college tuition and at the age of twenty-five enrolled at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC. This is where I was first exposed to the fine arts world and realized that I could pursue art as a discipline and as a profession. I always loved drawing, making things, and figuring out how things worked, but the concept of being a professional artist was something I’d never dreamed of. I was blown away the first time I went to an art gallery and blown away even more the first time I went to an art museum and saw all the classics in-person!
I fell in love with photography and sculpture and through my work-study program became one of the sports and communications photographers for the university. In 1983 during my senior year, I participated in a prestigious semester abroad program in Tirolo, Italy at the Brunnenberg Castle where I intensely studied photography, art history, and agro-anthropology. I returned and completed my Bachelor of Arts and have one of my bronze sculptures in the permanent collection of St. Andrews University.
With my art degree in hand, I was like “now what!” University was great for honing my skills and developing my craft but was a bit lacking in entrepreneurship and how to make it as a professional artist. But none the less, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia and landed a job as an illustrator working on newspaper ads for a national retail chain. I continued to have successful careers in advertising/illustration, product design, and manufacturing production. I think I’m most proud however of owning and operating a successful residential remodeling business for over 20 years and creating great spaces for wonderful families in Georgia, Tennessee, and Washington. Throughout this time, I also continued to study, create art, and participate in solo and juried group exhibits. I completed courses in metal, stone, and wood sculpture at the Atlanta College of Art in 2005 and studied glass fusing at the Spruill Arts Center in Atlanta in 2006. I’ve always been driven by curiosity and I love to learn and experiment. I enjoy having a broad skill set and knowing how to work with different materials – it allows my imagination to run wild knowing I can figure out how to construct and achieve what I see in my mind’s eye.
After moving to Houston in 2009, I had sort of a “now or never” moment and decided that I was going to pursue my art full-time. Houston has such a vibrant and diverse art scene that is truly inspiring and motivating. I’ve been fortunate to have some terrific exhibits in Houston and participate in solo and group shows. No matter what your age or the variety of careers you have along your journey, I believe it is important to continue to pursue your passions!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think it’s hard for any entrepreneur to juggle all the hats you have to wear to run a business; but I think trying to still have energy and inspiration to create art can be an extra struggle. I’m getting better and better at realizing what I should handle and what tasks I should probably outsource to someone else – like marketing and accounting. I think a struggle an artist can have along the way is just believing in themselves and having confidence about their passion to create…you’re sort of going rogue when you decide to be a professional artist instead of getting a “real job” but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m obsessed with textures, patterns, reflections, and movement that I can capture with the camera or generate through sculpture. Currently, I’m really inspired by imagery found both in nature and architecture that I can abstract and exaggerate. I do a lot of experimentation with camera movement and lens manipulation and I also choose to print on metals and other interesting materials. I have a knack for seeing really cool and interesting details that people tend to walk right past every day and I enjoy celebrating those details through art.
I also love to travel and feel that it’s essential to inspiration. I love creating work that shares a sense of place and inspires curiosity in others. I’ve traveled throughout the United States and have a goal to visit all the National Parks (I’m up to 17 so far) and I’ve traveled in Australia, Indonesia, Hawaii, and Canada gathering and cataloging textures and imagery to incorporate into future work. I’m proud that my art is held in private collections in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t know if I’d call it luck, but I certainly have an appreciation for when the right people show up in your life at the right moment. I believe in the old adage that “luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. I work hard, constantly refine my skills, and always stay open to new ideas and new possibilities.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6002 West 34th St, Unit I
Houston, Texas - Website: www.jangoldenart.com
- Phone: 832-628-0789
- Email: jan@jangoldenart.com
- Instagram: @jangoldenart
- Facebook: jangoldenart
Image Credit:
Jan Golden
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