Art Series
My art works generally fall into series based upon areas of social interest and defined usually
by a style and technical innovation. For me as artist/ educator, keeping up with cutting edge
techniques has been passion, as well as, an asset to teaching students. In the early 70's, I received
two research grants to invent a high intensity photographic enlarger to expose 4"x5" negatives on
non-silver photosensitive emulsions. In making this machine, using a carbon arc light and a large
reconnaissance lens, I was able to dramatically cut costs in doing large scale color separations in
photo-silk screen and as paintings on canvas.
Looking for a way to make high relief embossing led me to investigate, first cast paper and then
paper making in general. So the work moved from cast paper relief, to dyed paper pulp paintings,
to sprayed paper pulp with silk-screen images on canvas. The combination of many media has and
probably always will, attract me as an artist.
Recently, I have become interested in intaglio water based techniques and keep finding safer ways to
use older traditional print making forms. I also tend to keep learning new techniques and have been
working with encaustic on wood panel. I will continue to experiment with wax and pigment not
knowing exactly where it will lead. I know that making art for me is a most transcendent experience
engaging myself on all levels, physical, intellectual and spiritual, and is a way of life that brings
unexpected personal rewards.
Janice Hartwell / Associate Professor / Florida State University, Tallahassee / May 2005