A Journey from Murals to Mastery
Janette K Hopper‘s path to becoming an accomplished artist began in her earliest childhood memories. Before she could even articulate her thoughts clearly, she expressed a desire to create murals, which she charmingly referred to as “burals.” Her mother nurtured this budding passion, keeping her busy with coloring and painting on newsprint ends, a byproduct of newspaper production. As Hopper grew older and had children of her own, she turned her artistic focus to watercolors. This medium allowed her to balance the demands of motherhood with her creative pursuits. Over the years, her dedication to art never wavered, leading her to earn a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) from the University of Oregon, the highest degree in the field in the United States.
Hopper’s academic journey did not end with her own education. She went on to share her knowledge and passion with others as a Professor of Art and Department Chair at the University of North Carolina Pembroke. Teaching allowed her to influence and inspire a new generation of artists, but upon retiring from academia, Hopper chose to devote herself entirely to her art. This decision marked a new chapter in her life, one where her days are filled with the creation of unique, deeply personal works of art.
Janette K Hopper: A Unique Printmaker
Hopper’s artistic style is as varied as it is profound. Her work often stems from direct observation but transcends into realms of abstraction, focusing on composition, color, and texture. Her deep concern for contemporary issues frequently finds expression in her art, creating pieces that resonate with societal themes. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, Hopper draws immense inspiration from nature, particularly plant forms, mountains, and the ocean. This connection to the natural world is evident in her unique prints, where she combines traditional techniques with innovative methods to produce one-of-a-kind pieces.
The unique prints of Janette K Hopper are distinguished by their individuality and the meticulous process involved in their creation. These prints, made with her own hands, eschew any photographic techniques, making each piece truly irreplaceable. Utilizing woodblock printing, linocuts, sumi ink painting, monoprints, and chine-collé, she creates artworks that are as diverse in technique as they are in aesthetic. The chine-collé technique, in particular, adds a layer of complexity and beauty to her prints. This method involves adhering different colored or textured papers to a base print, often resulting in an embossed effect that adds depth and texture to her work.
The Meditative Process of Creation
Hopper’s workspace is a testament to her adaptability and dedication. Her creative space can be anywhere she finds herself, reflecting her ability to create despite the surroundings. This adaptability was particularly evident when she collaborated with a technical expert in a state-of-the-art printshop. Hopper collects various materials—scraps, ghost prints, failed sumi ink pieces, and beautiful papers—transforming them into components of her art. Her intense concentration during the creative process is legendary among her friends and family, who have many stories of her obliviousness to distractions when she is immersed in her work.
The process of creating her unique prints is meditative and introspective. Hopper often experiments with ink, allowing it to splatter and run, and incorporating long brush strokes and transparent watercolor tones. Some of the sumi ink she uses is homemade, derived from charcoal from her campfires, mixed with egg yolk as a binder. This handmade ink separates into larger granules, adding unique textures to her works. The variety of papers she uses, especially the long-fibered Japanese papers, are integral to the aesthetics of her prints. These papers allow her to follow the desired form by simply dampening the paper with a brush and tearing it along the line.
Janette K Hopper: Influences and Inspirations
Hopper’s work is deeply influenced by her experiences living in the Northwestern United States, where the mystical breeze off the Pacific Ocean and the presence of Asian-rooted artists left a lasting impression on her art. This influence is particularly evident in her use of sumi ink, a technique popularized in the region by artists like Mark Tobey. Hopper taught herself to work with sumi ink during an artist residency in Montana and later taught this technique in Washington State, even creating sumi ink from egg yolk and charcoaled firewood when traditional art supplies were unavailable.
Her artistic influences are numerous and varied. In graduate school, she was inspired by artists such as Frank Okada and Kate Nicholson, and her extensive travels and exposure to art collections worldwide have continually fueled her creativity. Artist residencies have provided her with opportunities to connect with other artists from around the world and explore new ideas. Hopper’s family and friends have also been a constant source of support and inspiration, encouraging her to continue her artistic journey. Her work often reflects her fascination with pre-Columbian and indigenous art, as seen in her masks, which embody the beauty and intrigue of nature.
Hopper’s artistic journey is a testament to her dedication, adaptability, and deep connection to nature and her craft. Her work continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of traditional printmaking techniques and exploring new mediums and methods. Each piece she creates is a unique reflection of her experiences, influences, and the meditative process that guides her hand.
