Janet Ayliffe. Artist, Printmaker and Painter
Janet Ayliffe works as a fine art printmaker and watercolour painter. She was born on Kangaroo island. Growing up there on the family farm, with the surrounding scrublands and nearby beaches has given form to many of her ideas and compositions. So too, the landscapes of her present home at Kangarilla in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, where Janet now lives and works.
She has developed an original style that reflects her life, her values, her family and environments. From the earlier techniques of wood engraving, etched metal plate intaglio and aquatints, to the more recent photopolymer plate etching used with digital archival prints of her painting, Janet produces art that is, at once, accessible and deeply layered and complex.
‘Wallabies at Nepean Bay’ Kangaroo Island - journal - watercolour
Margie Sheppard - Painter and Printmaker - catalogue, Janet’s solo exhibition at the Adele Boag Gallery
“Janet Ayliffe’s art practice spans over more than 40 years. The unwavering dedication to the observation of nature and the profundity of being in this world are the foundations of her paintings and etchings. Janet looks into the natural world with wonder and reverence, as she does with her own life and those around her. Her detailed interpretation of nature, of place and this life combine and layer to make her unique and well established visual expression”
‘Clayton Bay’ etching - near the mouth of the River Murray
Jonathan Wells QC- from his opening address, Janet’s solo exhibition at the Adele Boag Gallery
“Here are but Four Truths that meet me in Janet’s work - that strike me - ultimately, that bespeak, with quiet resilience and assurance, Hope, Joy, Love, Freedom and Justice. First, we belong, Second, we are connected, Third, we are Blessed, Fourth, we need not be afraid.
…..Janet’s is no fair weather view, she knows about sorrow and travail. But here lies the rub.
Ultimately, Janet’s Art is subversive. In celebrating these truths she quietly. gently - but resolutely, defiantly - subverts the destructive forces of fear, exclusion, oppression and dishonour. The very medium throws down the gauntlet. It is why she is so committed to printmaking; there must be nothing exclusive or inaccessible about her art. It - she - reaches out to embrace.”
The complete address should be read and is to be found in the section ‘In the words of Others’.
‘Journey of my days’ 24 carat gold etching over archival digital print
Janet’s paintings and graphic work are represented in public and private collections throughout Australasia, the UK, Europe including the the Benetton ‘Imago Mundi’ collection in Venice, Canada and the USA, Japan and China.
Her design work includes two lead light atrium for Woolcock Reynella, and co-design with Glen Ash of ‘Imagine The Night Sky’ installation for the Adelaide Festival Centre, and 2D installations for the Oncology ward of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide.
Janet has illustrated for Penguin - Omnibus Books and has been included in the London Artist’s Book Exhibition and International Works On Paper in Sydney
She has shown in many group exhibitions and has held twenty two solo exhibitions, most recently in Guangzhou for Goelia.
Her work has won numerous prizes.
Important site information:
Clicking on an image opens a page containing a larger image and clicking on this, opens another more magnified image. In ‘Etchings’ and ‘Paintings’ there are several details to scroll through by again clicking on the image.
This page offers a more details about the work, along with more information about its inspiration and structure as well as the purchase price and the ‘Add to Cart’ button that leads to payment pages, where Credit and Debit cards can be used.
If you are interested in an etching purchase, there is above the cart button, a ‘CONTACT JANET’ link that will open up an email to be sent to Janet, add your telephone number as well if you wish to discuss in person, and ‘Direct deposit’ is also available.
These works are hand made, sometimes hand coloured, and are hand printed in batches, some are available immediately, some may be a little longer, Janet will let you know after you have made contact. Fine Art Reproductions can usually be posted within four days of purchase.
