Stretched Canvas

Modern Lines

Contemporary White

Natural Clear Maple

Unframed print




Jan Schmuckal, Geneva, IL
Member Since January 2008
Artist Statement Tucked away in the quaint
historic district of downtown
Geneva Illinois in an historic
Victorian home, Gallery 28 , an
art gallery for both fine and
functional art, features a fresh
mix of breath-taking paintings,
exquisite jewelry, sculpture,
photography, pottery and
unique works in wood and
metal along with music by
premier musicians. The variety
of art will interest serious fine
art collectors as well as fine
craft enthusiasts! Painting
styles include abstracts,
figurative works, landscapes,
architectural pieces and still
life. Gallery 28 is truly
accessible for all levels of the
art buying experience. Gallery
owners and artists Jan
Schmuckal and Beth Franke
invite you to stop in to this
eclectic space, and journey
into the world of fine art!
_________________________________________________________________

A native of St. Charles, Illinois, Jan Schmuckal was the kind of kid always doing some sort of art project,
thanks to her very indulgent parents! She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1986 with a degree in
Industrial Design, and spent the following years as a designer in the Point-of-Purchase industry. After
many years as a designer, she had an overwhelming desire to start painting again, which she had not
done since high school. She started out in a little makeshift studio in the corner of her apartment
bedroom. At that time, Jan made a conscious decision to go in an impressionistic direction as an artist
rather than as a realist because it provided a break from the realistic renderings that she did every day
as a designer. To further hone her technique she pursued an ad-hoc education, taking workshops and
classes from both nationally accredited and local artists. She entered regional shows, then national
shows, placed her work in galleries, gave painting workshops, (quit her design job!) opened 3 successive
art studios, taught art classes... and in 2005, Jan opened an art gallery in a 112-year-old house in
Geneva, Illinois.

What Jan says about her Art…

“ The changing light of day and the moods it evokes are the foundation of all my oil paintings. Each piece
usually starts with a powerful, simple composition, which then evolves into a theme in which strong light
and shadow and deep color are within the primary subject. Strength, mood and simplicity are my primary
intentions. All my paintings are done Alla Prima, also known as direct painting, which means; A style of
painting where, instead of building colors up with layers, the painting is done in one session while the
paint is still wet. From the Italian word which literally means at once. I feel that this style of painting helps
my intentions to be succinct within each painting.”

I believe that Art begins with intent. After I have established my intent, then there are levels of insight
about a subject that I add to the intent. After I establish my intent and some level of insight, only then can
my learned painting skills come into play, and those are the tools that I use to define my insight and
intent. Painting is very much like writing poetry. A poet can write a barroom limerick, a haiku, or an epic
poem... it all depends on the intertwining of intent, insight, and skill level. To quote Leonardo Da Vinci,
‘Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art”.

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Tags Jan, Schmuckal, art, floral, gallery28, mod, modern, oil, painting, pop, popart, poppy, post-modern, red, retro