Jana Bouc · Artist  

Jana Bouc

Art is my life. When I'm not painting or drawing I'm thinking about it, or just observing the world around me with artist's eyes and great curiosity.

I enjoy painting and drawing a wide variety of subjects; just about anything can interest me, pretty or not. The deep, detailed seeing and the understanding that comes from that visual adventure is what fascinates me.

After working solely in watercolor for over 20 years, in 2006 I added oil painting, acrylic, gouache and monotype printmaking to my work. I've also discovered the joy (and challenges) of painting and sketching outdoors around the San Francisco Bay Area.

I carry my sketchbook and a small set of watercolors everywhere I go and can often be found drawing in cafes, on BART or anywhere something interesting catches my eye.

My award-winning paintings are in private collections nationally and have been featured in books and magazines.

In 2000 I converted a two-unit El Cerrito-area duplex (San Francisco East Bay) into my home and studio. The light-filled studio provides a comfortable, creative space for the artists who attend my watercolor classes, and is my favorite place to be in the world.

All work is available for purchase as originals or prints unless otherwise noted. Prices generally range from $50 for smaller prints to $800 for large complex paintings. E-mail Jana for details.

Publications

Books

2010: Must Paint Watercolor Flowers, London: Quarto Publishing (multiple pages of step-by-step paintings)
2007: The Watercolor Flower Artists' Bible, London, UK: Quarto Publishing (7 pages of paintings)

Other

2009: Zoom Magazine, Costa Rica (illustration)
2008: White Lilac Love, MA, USA: AG Press (book cover)
2007: Cedar Wings, The In-flight Magazine of Middle East Airlines, AirLiban,  APRA Publishing: Beirut, Lebanon (illustration).

Selected Exhibitions

Solo
2007 Cerrito Theatre Cafe, El Cerrito

2-person
2008 Fingado Art Gallery, El Cerrito, CA
2008 El Cerrito City Hall Gallery

Juried Group Shows
California Watercolor Association (multiple shows in the SF Bay Ara)
Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco
Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley

Art Education

Jana Bouc has studied art at California College of Art; San Francisco City College; Laney College and Santa Monica College. She has taken private classes and workshops from Camille Prezwodek, Elio Camacho, Claire Verbiest, Judy Morris, Arne Westerman, Rick Rodrigues and Susan Cornellis.

Prior Art Experience:

Before beginning to paint in the 1980s, Jana was a ceramic artist, creating hand-thrown functional and decorative ceramics. Previous to that she was a fiber artist, creating hand-painted batik apparel and hand-woven rugs. Drawing and sketching have always been part of her life, including keeping illustrated journals of daily life and dreams.