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Janice McGloine
Interview with the artist
What is the first artwork you ever sold?
I sold my first artwork when I was about 15 years old which is far too long ago! I was given a photograph of a dog and asked to do a drawing of it. It was a small pencil sketch. I don't remember how much I got paid but I do know that they liked it. That was the first of many as I now make my living doing the same thing but now I work in pastel.
What is your favourite media and why?
My favourite medium is most definately soft pastels. I find them perfect for most types of work but especially for portraits. They give such a wonderfully soft, realistic finish. I love to move the pastels around with my fingers to "model" the form, then work into them with pastel pencils which give the finishing details.
Did a particular person or event spark your interest in art?
As a child, I used to love watching Tony Hart on telly. The programme was called "Vision On". I was also fascinated by Rolf Harris who used to splosh paint around on huge canvasses at that time. I was encouraged by my family and had a great aunt who was very talented and she taught me to draw.
How long does it usually take you to complete an artwork?
I tend to work quite quickly and complete a portrait in a day, but I may need to make adjustments later, it's good to come back after a break and check how it looks with a fresh eye.
When and where did you first exhibit your work?
I held my first exhibition at the Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington in 1990. It's a wonderful gallery which houses a large Tiffany Glass collection. The exhibition went very well with quite a few sales.
Do you have a favourite amongst your own artwork?
My personal favourite at the moment is an acrylic painting on box canvas which depicts an old chair under the shade of a tree. It reminds me of a very hot, lazy day in the Lot Valley in France last year. When I look at it I can still feel the heat of the sun.
What do you like best about being an artist?
I love to see peoples' expression when they ask me what I do for a living. I feel very fortunate to be able to make a living as an artist, it's not an easy thing to get into. If I couldn't do it any more, I don't know what I'd do. Drawing and painting is a big part of my life. I love it.
What do you like least about being an artist?
The part about being an artist which I don't particularly enjoy is dealing with financial side of things. I just want to paint! It would be perfect if I had someone to deal with it all for me. Dream on!
Have you ever had an art-related disaster?
A few years ago I was commissioned to paint a large portrait of the owner of big local company. It involved the man himself, his favourite armchair and his faithful black labrador sitting at his feet. As usual, I used my favourite medium, pastel which for some reason, I decided to fix (I never use a fixative.) I bought a well known brand and tested it first. Unfortunately, when I sprayed the finished painting, it came out in blobs all over. I had to completely rework the entire painting and I've never used a fixative again since.
Where do you work, do you have a studio?
I have a small studio/gallery in a local visitor complex which has around one million visitors eack year. People can see a painting being worked on during their visit and I find this creates more interest than just seeing a finished painting up on the wall. It is also important to me to get feedback, which is usually very encouraging.
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