Can you tell us about yourself?
I come from a family of artists. My mother illustrated children’s books, so doing artwork and making things was a normal part of life for me and my siblings.
What does your work aim to say?
My work reflects the way I see the world: even in difficult, sad, or ugly times or places, there are fascinating, unexpected, and inspiring things that catch my attention. I often experience déjà vu, the feeling that I’ve experienced new situations before, and conversely, I often experience feelings of strangeness or unreality in familiar situations, so I try to capture those experiences in my work.
Who are your biggest influences?
Probably 19th and early 20th century illustrators, like those by Arthur Rackham, Margaret Tarrant, Carl Larsson, and Jessie Willcox Smith. I like soft watercolours. I like the way they evoke a sense of nostalgia for things that probably never were. Similarly, I like the stillness and unsettling quality of Andrew Wyeth’s paintings, and the light and shadow in impressionist paintings.
How has your career developed and evolved?
I studied art and design for a year at WAIT (now Curtin) and then worked as an illustrator and graphic designer through the 1980s until I developed rheumatoid arthritis in the early 1990s, and my hands couldn’t use drawing tools anymore. I decided to retrain so I studied psychology (and anthropology, which I loved) and worked in various roles within the social services sector in WA. I started as a counselor, and then moved into service management, which evolved into risk and quality management. Outside work, I discovered digital photography and processing software in the early 2000s. I loved how accessible it was. It meant I could make images again, and processing my photos became my meditation. In 2021, I decided to return to artwork full-time. My early experiences in illustration and design shape the way I work now - the type of things I see, how I compose images, and my process to make finished artwork.
Describe your studio or workspace
I take photos wherever I am, and I’ve been fortunate to travel quite a bit lately. I process my photos on my computer at home. I mostly work at a desk in the living area. Sometimes I take over the dining table or kitchen benches, but I do my best to contain my mess.
What is your dream project?
I want to experiment with making prints from my photos, printing with light, and image transfer.
What is the best piece of advice you've received?
Forget what other people think and make art for yourself.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Fortunately, I have lots of photos to experiment with. I have found that making abstract textural images is a good way to play with different effects and techniques, without any pressure to produce a specific result. Playing relaxes me, I learn a lot, and that inspires me. If I feel stuck while I’m working with a particular image, I leave it and work on something else. When I come back to it after a while, the solution usually falls into place.
How do you stay motivated in your art practice?
I am always questioning, researching, and learning - not just about photography or art. I find that learning anything new is motivating. I enjoy seeing other people’s work - seeing what’s possible, and how they see and approach things.
How do you balance your personal life and your art practice?
I tend to be a bit all-or-nothing with both.
Connect with Jane:
Instagram: @janegarratt.art
Website: janegarratt.art/
Email: jane.garratt.art@gmail.com
