BIOGRAPHY

JANIS McCRACKEN began her art career in the late 70’s when she took courses in hand-built pottery at the Summit Art Center. In the early 80’s she returned to college to complete her degree. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design from Kean University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.

From 1984 until 2002 she was President of Interplan Design Group, specializing in corporate and professional interior design. During this period she developed her artistic pursuits in many diverse areas including jewelry making, fabric arts, photography and flower arranging. In the early 90’s, Janis and her husband lived in Paris where she was greatly influenced by the great masters, especially the Impressionists. She also traveled extensively with her husband including several trips to Asia where she grew to love and appreciate Asian art and culture.

Since retiring from the business world in 2002, Mrs. McCracken has been pursuing her love of creating fine arts. Using a variety of mediums, her style connects impressionism, with its emphasis on bright color and the effect of light on the subject, to Asian brush painting and its emphasis on individual brush stroke and the symbolic representation of the subject. This adds the elements of asymmetry, spontaneity and sometimes even the unexpected to her work. She attended a workshop with Wolfe Kahn, and has studied privately with Jean Carbonetti, Anne Kullaf and Pat Butynski.

JURIED SHOWS

• 2014 – Parkersburg Art Center – Professional Artists Exhibition – “The River”
• 2013 – Hope After Sandy Art Benefit, Basking Ridge, NJ
• 2014-2010 – Watchung Art Center Members Juried Art Exhibition
• 2011-2010 – Bernardsville Public Library, Bernardsville, NJ
• 2011, 2008 – Contemporary Art Center, Bedminster, NJ
• 2010 – Visual Art Center of NJ Members Show
• 2009 – New Jersey Watercolor Society Associate Member Show
• 2009 – Long Beach Island Foundation National Competition – Works Of Art On Paper
• 2008 – National New Jersey Equine Artists Association – Art of the Horse – Bedminster, NJ
• 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007 – Sumi-e Society of America International Exhibition

SOLO SHOWS

• 2014, 2008 – Parkersburg Art Center, Parkersburg, WV
• 2012 – Summit Library in affiliation with Visual Art Center of New Jersey, Summit, NJ
• 2010, 2009 – Madison Gallery, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ
• 2009 – Three-person show – Art Upstairs Gallery at the Mayo Center, Morristown, NJ
• 2008 – Mt. Kemble Gallery, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute, Morristown, NJ
• 2008 – Three-person show – Hanover Township Hall, Whippany, NJ

GROUP SHOWS

• 2011 – Visual Art Center of NJ – Aspiring Artists Series (painting selected for show postcard)
• 2014, 2012-2005 – Sumi-e Society of New Jersey – Morristown Museum, Bernardsville Library, ADP Corp. HQ, Morris County Museum, Art Upstairs Gallery, Community Senior Center – Livingston, NJ