You'd think that I would've met Janis through mosaics, but that's not how we met. We both belonged to the same art group and we were both accepted into their juried art exhibit. She just happened to be dropping off her artwork moments before me. She came walking around the corner as I was taking my artwork out of the box. We've been friends ever since.
Janis has a unique style to her artwork, using any kind of material she gets her hands on. There's no limit to what she will use in a mosaic. Her mosaics can be very bright, cheery and colorful or very dark with a bit of a sinister side. She's never afraid to try something new.
Janis is one of 8 resident artists at Luna Mosaic Arts. You can come to the studio and see her work in person. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to be there when she is working. After learning more about her, you will want to met her.
by Janis Nunez
LMA: How long have you been creating mosaics?
Janis: I started truly creating in the summer of 2009.
LMA: How did you get started in mosaics?
Janis: I used to have a garden store and one day a lady came in with a mosaic topiary. She wanted to leave it on consignment. I thought it belonged to a gallery more than a garden store! So. I didn’t keep the topiary but I managed to ask the lady for a class and that summer she gave me my first piqueassiette class. Right there, I was hooked!
LMA: What is it about mosaics that resonates with you?
Janis: I love the fact that you can transform pieces without value or interest by themselves into a beautiful whole capable of “moving” the viewer. You can transmit ideas or feelings through the harmonious arrangement of textures, color, sizes, materials, etc. creating an impact in your own self and the art you create. Mosaics is very much like life, the every day moments you live crate your whole self, piece by piece, moment by moment.
by Janis Nunez
LMA: Do you practice any other art forms on a regular basis or have a hobby when not making mosaics?
Janis: I used to paint before I was introduced to mosaics. Not long ago I tried painting again and it didn’t work for me anymore. I found myself gluing pieces of glass over the painting. The rewarding feeling I get when making mosaics is impossible to get with any other medium. At least for me!
LMA: Do you have a favorite color palette?
Janis: I love color, warm colors, and most of all, red. Red is my super favorite color! Sometimes I have to force myself into using different colors that are out of my “comfort zone” because I tend to always work around red and a warm palette.
by Janis Nunez
LMA: Who are your top 3 favorite mosaics by someone else?
Janis: “Big Bang” by Beatrice Serre. Because of her use of materials and her ability to translate nature into mosaics.
Big Bang by Beatrice Serre
“Snowfell” by Solly (John Sollinger) I love the use of light glass over dark glass and the effect it gets with light. You can really see the depth of his piece. Almost like a photo of a snow scene.
Snowfell by Solly (John Sollinger)
copia di "Mosca" - Kandinsky ” by Arianna Puntin. Her art is (almost) always so colorful. It doesn’t matter if it’s abstract or more realistic, but her use of color is amazing!
copia di "Mosca" - Kandinsky by Arianna Puntin
LMA: Do you support any charitable causes? Which ones and why?
Janis: I love Mother Nature and always try to do my best to respect and take care of it. I cannot do much by myself so I like to donate to institutions like WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature or WCS – Wildlife Conservation Society.
LMA: What is your least favorite thing about mosaics and why?
Janis: I love everything about mosaics! Maybe the fact that I cannot spend my whole day (and life) making mosaics. For me, they are addicting in a good way; they are relaxing, therapeutic. They fill my mind and soul. I wish I can have more time to make more mosaics!
LMA: Tell us a little about your studio space:
Janis: My studio is like my sanctuary. I can do whatever I like and want when I’m in there. It is filled with colors and Mexican images from the Day of the Dead, my favorite holiday. I have family photos, notes, and every single corner of it is packed with things that I may someday use. Yes, it’s messy, crowded with stuff and dusty, buy I love being there. It’s me!
LMA: Do you listen to music while creating (what type/bands)or do you prefer the TV? Silence? Pod cast? Etc.?
Janis: It is a whole ritual when I start to work. First I light up an incense stick, fill up a bottle with ice cold water and turn on my music. Music has to be loud, so loud that my kids used to close my studio’s door to have some peace and quiet for homework. I like classic rock mostly. I’m an 80’s girl, I like Poison, Scorpions, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Guns n’ Roses, Meat Loaf… many more. But I always work with music. TV? I don’t like TV at all so, NO TV.
by Janis Nunez
by Janis Nunez
LMA: Where do you find creative inspiration?
Janis: I can find inspiration at any moment no matter where I am. Sometimes I like to reflect my life experiences or my feelings. Other times I just want to make something colorful and happy, pleasing to the eye. I love mixed media mosaics and experiment with different materials so, I’m always in the lookout for ideas in every day objects or situations. I carry a mini sketchbook with me and if an idea comes to my mind, I write it down or sketch it with as much details as I can so I can go back to it any other time.
LMA: If you could give readers one single piece of advice, what would it be?
Janis: I would say to never be afraid of experimenting new ways to make your art. We all learn from mistakes, so even if you didn’t accomplish what you were looking for, that experiment taught you something. That result you got from experimenting, will bring you more knowledge than you can imagine for your future art creations. So. never stop trying!
by Janis Nunez
LMA: Tell us about your single greatest mosaic moment.
Janis: Mosaic is so rewarding in many ways that is difficult to choose one specific moment. I loved when I opened the email from Disney announcing my acceptance to the “Festival of the Masters” art show. Or the first time I apply to SAMA and one of my pieces was accepted fort the Kentucky exhibit. Those moments are exciting, but for me, the fact that the people recognizes me as “an artist”, makes me feel so happy and proud of myself that I never felt that way even when I graduated as an engineer!
by Janis Nunez
