Welcome to Jan Ketza American Artist Website
A Creative Life Full Of Color And Exploration
This Website is a "Collection of Artistry" created by Jan Ketza American Artist, (b 1957 Chicago IL. Here significant Artwork will be featured and reviewed. The reference to "The Velvet Underground" is how Jan Ketza describes the collective journey she traveled exploring Art for the past 5 decades. Every subject she dove into, fed into her Art Passion. One fed into the next and became essential to her art development.
Phantasmic Abstracts
Inspired by the American Landscape these Phantasmic Abstracts are born from fantasy and imagination. Layers of color are poured upon a floating canvas with support in areas. Then twisted and turned creating new nooks and valleys, color is poured again. Until the Artist knows it is done.
Mod Girl Entourage
Mod Girl Entourage developed out of Palm Springs California. Here everything is in full color! The Men and Women can not help themselves but to become more vibrant. The more time there, the more immersed you become also but with a Mid Century Modern flair.
Abstract Landscapes
Abstract Landscape of extraordinary places that are full of vivid color and mysterious shadows Dramas of color. I often call them. Light captures my attention in the most exciting ways I challenge myself to take a risk and see what happens.
Art Gallery Shop
Come on into the Art Gallery Shop and see the Art that is available to purchase.
Here there will be a collection of art works that are available to purchase for your collection.
Dirty Pour Art and Workshops
Dirty Pour Paintings are very exciting to do. I extend at times workshops to create your own painting also.
The best part of Dirty Pour Painting is the unbelievable creativity that comes out of everyone. People that never had painted before, under my instruction, will deliver an incredible canvas. Planting that seed of Art in others is part of my art process of spreading the joy of painting.
Utah / O'KeIfee Inspired
My new painting discovery UTAH!
This state has blown my mind!
Utah is a visual feast everywhere you look. The land bends and folds in constant redirection. Then, torrent storms move massive amount of water and Earth. At the same time this force softens all the edges into beautiful organic forms. Lingering waterfalls trickle on slowly etching out bowls in a ribbon form gracefully into sandstone cliffsides. Every part of me screams Georgia O'Keeffe would have painted UTAH!
Abstract Nudes
Exploring the feminine form in an Abstract way actually takes away the nakedness and enhances the natural beauty of the woman. I find her significant gesture and bring that forward in suggestion.
Lines, Mid Century Modern influence, and a bit of fauvism adventure all take play in my Abstract Nudes.
Intuitive Method Painting and Workshops
Intuitive Method Painting is a very spontaneous and serendipitous art technique. The intention is to discover yourself in the process. Allow the Flow and spirit of your brushstrokes reveal themselves. It's about tunning into your energy and the energy around you and trusting yourself to be free in your artwork.
Teaching this as a workshop is an absolutely wonderful experience.
MCM Revival
This technique developed out of my life experience living in Palm Springs. I was in the Mid Century Modern Capital of the world and the influence took a major hold within me. I studied Modern Art at a major level here and developed my version of MCM Art calling it MCM Revival.
I adapted techniques I learned from paintings artist did in the 1960's and made them my style.
Art Jewelry
Jewelry Designing developed from the Wearable Art Clothing lines I painted for Picasso's Creative Clothing. Customers wanted Jewelry that matched the outfits I created.
With Galena Beads I started to design Statement Necklaces, One of a Kind Jewelry, and experimented is developing many other Art Jewelry Designs.
It was applying all the skills of painting I knew into jewelry application. Shape, Texture, Color, Organic lines, Found Objects, Semi-Precious Stones, Objects of Desire all went into creating this art form.
Plein Air Painting
Plein Air Painting is the Art of painting out doors. There is more to the process. There is more awareness to everything you do. The weather and light change constantly so one must be ready to paint fast.
I actually find Plein Air painting the most exciting of all the art and painting styles that I create with.
I feel the sun on my face, I feel the wind in my hair, all the feel good elements of being out doors. All of this gets transposed to my paint brush and then to the canvas.
Rocks and Minerals
I have been fascinated by rocks since a child. The decades of curiosity have really put me in the Geology Enthusiast category now. At Galena Beads I featured semi precious stones to my customers. When I moved to California, I had no Idea the hot bed of Rockhounding that was available here. As I was Plein Air Painting I was mesmerized by the landforms which brough a sensce of being closer to nature into my painting. Then of course I had to paint and Rockhound the area.
Again, how one creative love brough another in my great big art circle of life.
Wire Crochet
Wire Crochet Art Jewelry is taking your Grandmother's Crochet technique and giving it a modern application in Art Jewelry. As a child I had a small business of making Crochet necklaces out of gold and silver lame thread with crystal beads. Through my early years I experimented with wire and developed Wire Crochet Jewelry.
Galena Beads Serving Creativity
From 2002 through 2017 I owned, developed and operated Galena Beads - Serving Creativity located on Historic Main Street Galena IL
The Shop was incredible. Filled with extraordinary beads from all over the world. Finished samples filled the shop giving people opportunity to buy the sample or recreate it in a workshop that was offered.
Picasso's Creative Clothing
From 1987 to 2002 there was the creative adventure of Picasso's Creative Clothing.
It offered a customer to paint their own t shirt and become an instant Artist.
A Spin-Art Machine spun the garment and created abstract design in the surface. Each one was unique and amazing.
I started to develop Wearable Art Clothing Lines and offered them for sale.
This went into Selling the garments at major Art Show across the United States.
Taos Santa Fe
To develop my Art talent I went to Taos and Santa Fe New Mexico and workshopped with established Artist from that region.
I experimented in Art techniques that intrigued me.
My first time Plein Air Painting was with Leigh Gusterson in Taos, NM.
I went to the top of Mountains, the to edge of the Rio Grand Gorge, and never felt more alive painting in my life.
I consider this the most incredible Art form to paint.
Every step she takes is filled with curiosity, embodying the spirit of an adventurer. She inspires those around her to break free from the ordinary and the mundane, and to become explorers in their own right. With Jan, I’ve learned to look at life not just as a journey, but as an endless adventure waiting to unfold.
Susan Ray Duhme
Author of Significant Beading Books, Published Art Jewelery Designer, Shop Merchant Galena IL
Talent Development for Horizon Industries.
