Janie Pansini Ronchelli
Photographer & Watercolor Painter
I find my purpose and power in nature that surrounds me, wherever that may be. Because of this, my husband and I retired to Central Oregon on a hay farm 5 years ago. At that time, I began to take watercolor classes by Zoom. This venue has helped me to take what so inspires me — my photography of nature — and bring it to life on the page with watercolor. It is through my painting that I have entered into a new relationship with nature. A dance with not just the rivers, the trees, the desert, the sunsets and rises, but just as powerful are the many wild creatures that rest on our property. I have a great attraction to the red fox, the geese that nest on our irrigation island, and the blue heron.
I began abstract painting 3 years ago. I found that this form gave me a wonderful freedom of expression. Not having to stay between the lines enhances the "magical" interlude between myself, the artist, and the power of watercolor media. It can suspend judgment and be refreshing.
My Biography
I am California born and raised in a family where art and music were the fiber of my being. From a young age, I sang with my mother in choir and continue to do so today. My mother also exposed me to various media of the arts and crafts. In my 30s, I began to explore watercolor during 4 years of an illness, which paused a career in pediatric nursing, my great passion. I discovered that painting was very therapeutic and broadened my love for everything around me.
In 2020, after retiring from nursing, I have had the time and patience to develop my skills as an artist on both fronts of watercolor and singing. I so enjoy the opportunity that both fields offer me for becoming a bigger part of a community where I am joined by those who are also exploring their talents and the joy that art can bring.