Background

Jan Lowe - Realist, Animal & Nature Artist

Introducing Jan Lowe, who likes to paint in watercolour, pastel, oils, pen & wash and scratchboard, in fact just about anything that makes a mark on paper or canvas! Her love of nature and animals shows in her art, also likes to observe anything including people, buildings and places. She has loved drawing from a little girl, including carving figures out of chalk, matchsticks and modelling figures from clay. 

She worked with domestic animals for a vet after school as well as a strapper in a local horse stable before school, paving away for a dream career. Circumstances changed, as did her career in art, she never gave up her love of drawing.  After qualifying professionally in engineering, she worked for an international organisation where she worked in many countries broadening her knowledge of other cultures, landscapes, people and the animals. 

Whilst working in the US and Canada, she took advantage of the huge art teaching facilities available in Boston, Toronto and New York by enrolling at the Fine Art School, and finished with a Fine Art Degree.  Some highlights were the chance meeting with the acclaimed artist Robert Bateman.

Work was an essential element, but her love to draw never waived.  If not sketching she was behind the camera (her second love).   She took every opportunity to draw and paint and attended workshops and demonstrations including instruction by master artists such as Haley Brown, Bob Wade, and of course inspired by the brilliance of Robert Bateman and his philosophy of our environment including his master touch to capture animals.  She is always learning and is a constant student of Rembrandt and art history.

Jan paints and draws from her heart, she insists that she needs to have a connection to her subject and often, she relies on her judgement when drawing - “I have to feel, smell and remember the touch of the animals, the smell of the air, sea or land that I am drawing – same with people and places – I need a connection and feel the passion”.

Art Group Memberships

Jan is a signatory member of AGRA. 
International Society of Scratchboard Artists.
Australia Guild of Realist Art (AGRA).
Pastel Art Society of Victoria.
Watercolour Art Society of Victoria.
Guild of Nature and Wildlife Art in Australia.
Victorian Art Society.
Melbourne Society of Women Painters & Sculptors Inc.
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia.
The Malvern Art Society.
American Watercolour Society.
Art Community Commitment.
2015 – Vice President & Editor of the International Society of Scratchboard Artists (US).
2015 Vice President & Editorial AGRA (Aust).
2016- Treasurer, Editor (on-line newsletter) AGRA (Aust).
2011-2014 – Present Australian Guild of Realist Artists.
2009-2013 Committee Member of the Watercolour Art Society of Victoria & Australia.
2011 – President Wildlife Art Society of Australasia.
2014 – President Watercolour Art Soc of Victoria & Australia.
2011 – Founder of the Guild f Nature & Wildlife in Australia.
2006-2011 Editor of Hues Magazine for AGRA.
2006 – Committee Member of AGRA.