Once upon a time there was a girl born Janet Sue Wecker to John ("Jack") and Ann near Saint Louis Missouri.  She lived there with her parents, sister, brother and one cat, Puff.  Almost from the beginning she began to draw on anything she could get her hands on.  One of her earliest works still remains inside the cover of one of her father's childhood books, "A Tall Book of Fairy Tales."  Perhaps you've heard of it?  This book, along with a few others, was the first source of inspiration for Janet.  She would pour over them, time and time again, as her constant ritual. 

Growing up she was privileged to observe her dad, an artist, sculptor, photographer and woodworker, in his small home studio.  This would become her most valued training. He had instilled in her a love of the arts early on.  With his willingness to spend time demonstrating, training and critiquing her efforts, Janet developed her skills as an artist.  Often they would take trips to view the master works at the local museum, built for the 1904 World's Fair.  It was a treasured memory that Jack and Janet would share their whole life long.  Certainly there was no mistaking the gifts she had been given, for it was quite apparent.  And though she had always been grateful and aware of her ability, sadly becoming an artist would remain only a dream for most of her life.

As the years passed she would marry David, her childhood sweetheart, have three children and live happily ever after?  Well, sort of.  While Janet focused on a family and home she found time to participate in local art fairs giving her a creative outlet.  She developed a holiday ornament line that became cherished by all that saw them!  They were collected all around the land for nearly twenty years.  As she grew weary of this painstaking process of hand painting, glazing and firing, she began to paint on paper.  Watercolor would be a good transition from painting on clay.  Janet embraced this new media.  For her natural drawing talents produced not only some interesting and delightful images, but also much needed comfort as well.  She was comforted in what her father had shared with her so many years ago.  This was needed now and had come at just the right time in her life.  For now she had lost her dad and become quite sad for all time.

The newly created watercolor images were taken by one of the ornament collectors to a friend who just happened to work with other artists.  This would open the door to licensing Janet's art at long last.  Quickly the witty realism of the characters she portrayed caught the attention of several manufacturers.  Fabric is among them and this is where Janet devotes much of her effort.  She has created a menagerie of characters capturing the essence of those beloved children's books.  The dream that began in the lives of a loving father and his daughter was now realized though a bitter sweetness that still remains.  However, there is also joy.  For she now understands that this awesome gift that delights is shared with her heavenly Father, from whom it came of course!

                                                                    

 

The End