March 29, 2024

The Write Stuff

Dec. 21, 2014

Artist Janet Hoffman Uses Own Words as Inspiration

In her Petoskey home studio, Janet Hoffman clips phrases from the pages of her own handwritten journals. These intimate glimpses into her thoughts, questions and dreams are the medium for her intricately detailed works. Her clean cursive handwriting is uniform and legible, giving her eye-catching creations a uniform, rhythmic quality. Thus far, there are 13 completed works in her Journeology series, with more to come.

Journeology includes such unique works as: "Strider," a woman straining against her environment; "Wisdom Woman," a compelling portrait of strength and intelligence; and "The Queen," a regal visage amid fl owers. A patriotic-themed work, "Freedom," features an eagle and highlights words from historic fi gures such as Abraham Lincoln, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Susan B. Anthony, and Sojourner Truth.

"I look at the text as a pattern," she explains. "I do them on illustration board because you need to have some substance. I do a section at a time, putting in shading to round the edges and make them blend together. It gives it dimension."

Working four or five hours each day, Hoffman takes roughly two weeks to complete one of her Journeology creations, although some do take longer–even up to a year.

"I have journals from when I was seven or eight years old," says Hoffman. "Journals are a documentation of everything you do or think today. The beauty of journaling is that it can be anything. It’s whatever you think."

Hoffman has also worked in other media throughout her career, including three-dimensional sculpture and painting. She also teaches art classes in Alba.

HOW I GOT STARTED

Growing up in Detroit, I was a young student who continually doodled on my school work. I always loved art class because I could let my imagination go. My dad took a job at Cone Drive in Traverse City and we moved north. I graduated from Traverse City High School and went off to Michigan State before transferring to Northern Michigan University. It was easy to choose a college direction–art! I haven’t stopped doodling or expressing my creative imagination. I’ve always done art, whether it was as a commercial illustrator or teacher.

THE STORY BEHIND MY ART, MY INSPIRATION

There has always been a contrast between my inside world and the world around me. Art is a place I can control and create what I see from within, and what I want.

WORK I’M MOST PROUD OF

My Journeology series has been the transformation and re-creation of past, present and–hopefully–future.

YOU WON’T BELIEVE

That I enjoy doing all the art lessons from kindergarten to high school. Yes–finger painting and glue! I once worked as a traffic manager at WKLT in Traverse City. And I’m really an outside girl; I can hardly stand to be inside. I love walking in the woods, bicycling, cross-country skiing. My work is all indoors, however. I’m not a plein air artist.

MY FAVORITE ARTIST

This is a hard one for me. I love many of the masters for the precision, color and vision. Kahlo for her passion and personal identity reflected in her art. I enjoy current art, including graphic design, on labels by Leif Kolt and, of course, many of my delightful and creative art students.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING ARTISTS

Just do it. Keep doing it and don’t get tangled in other people’s opinions.

MY WORK CAN BE SEEN/PURCHASED

At my home studio and at www.janethoffman.com.

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