Artist Bio
Kia Ora and thank you for visiting
Artwork is a form of prayer, it helps me to listen and ultimately serve God (AMDG). Hopefully revealing beauty, connecting us to the transcendent and creating community. The ups and downs in life do influence my art and the stories I hear from others play a huge role in what I create. Listening is central to my spirituality and life, I feel strongly this must come first in all my interactions and decisions. Some days I succeed, some days I fail on epic proportions. But on those days when I'm most open, truly listening and vulnerable - then artwork and creativity flow like a dance of interconnection. The thing I love most about creativity and artwork is not only the contemplative moments but the moments when I get to work with others to create—seeing reactions or hearing stories about what it has meant to others. Our gifts are not ours to keep alone, they are meant to be shared - God's melody is sweetest when we play all our 'instruments' together. Ultimately my artwork and illustration are about creating connection.
I try to listen with gratitude and vulnerability, then act (in my life) to create connections to our God (of beauty, goodness and truth). The Aboriginal culture has a beautiful word 'Dadirri' which speaks of a deep listening that I feel is central to my life. Dadirri means inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness. It is a 'tuning in' experience with the specific aim to come to a deeper understanding of the beauty of nature. Dadirri recognises the inner spirit that calls us to reflect and contemplate the wonders of all God's creation.
You may just be wondering where my life began? Imagine a very young Jane running cross-country through dairy farms. My upbringing was classic, rural down to earth, small-town Aotearoa New Zealand. I grew up in a multicultural family (Maltese Mother and 4th generation Kiwi/ English Father). I believe strongly in what Jesus said about how we must "seek and find", to be curious, to seek joy and enjoy life. Cartoons were an early favourite pastime, and I have sketched for as long as I can remember. As I have grown, so has my artwork and it continues to be a work in progress. I have always been drawn to sketching with pen and pencil; enjoying the simplicity and the flexibility. Paint, paper, canvas and wood are also my common choices as I continue to experiment with digital media.
Through God's grace, I have been very blessed to have had many international adventures including living and travelling around the world (including Snowboard instructing for 7 back to back winters). My passion for the outdoors and the environment further fuels my creative process. I studied graphic design after high school and worked as a commercial graphic designer and illustrator for a number of years. I also operated my own design business for about 9 years. During this time I completed several commission-based projects and have also sold many personal artwork pieces. My employment base was mostly within the commercial design industry from 1999 - 2015. Including operating designjane Ltd. as a full-time freelance designer and artist from 2007 - 2015 (working with a worldwide client base). I also completed commissions for graphic design and fine art-based projects as part of my SOSJ noviciate (2015 - 2018).
Through tragedy and joy, it's fair to say that my life has taken some unexpected turns. But, I can now see that all was gift, grace opened my heart, I listened, and was led to religious life. This trust in listening led me to profess vows for the first time on 13th January 2018—becoming a Sister of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
After my first profession, I had the privilege to be in full-time ministry at a High School in Sydney (Pastoral Care, Design and Marketing) for three years (2018 - 2020). I moved back to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2021, and am currently working part-time for NCRS. I continue work on artwork projects for schools and parishes as a ministry and am also studying counselling part-time. I am particularly interested in continuing to work with schools to develop artwork; collaborating with students and staff to create a visual story of how God is alive in their community today. We never journey alone, artwork is community.
I believe that we can all find God in beauty, goodness and truth. I hope you can join me in solidarity as I live life as a Sister of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Everyone is welcome here. Everyone is included no matter their sexuality, race, age, and/or history. Everyone is welcome. I pray we listen together - that our lives may be a symphony played through deep listening.
That is why artists, the more conscious they are of their “gift”, are led all the more to see themselves and the whole of creation with eyes able to contemplate and give thanks, and to raise to God a hymn of praise. This is the only way for them to come to a full understanding of themselves, their vocation and their mission." ~ Saint Pope John Paul II
Thank you for listening and traveling with me today.
Shalom
~ Jane