Page 58 - Spring 2022

s| ARTSPEAK
Healing power of nature
and art fuel gardener
By Wendy Cooper
Janis Hanna Victoria has received her certification as a Master Gardener and and has started a garden coaching business.
Janis Hanna Victoria moved to Oconee
County three years ago from Ohio when her
husband became department head of Animal
and Dairy Sciences at the University of
Georgia. She made a deal with her husband
that if she was picking up and moving to
Georgia away from her family, then she wanted to focus solely on her art. And that is exactly what she has done. Victoria loves the freedom of creating what she wants, when she wants.
Victoria has always been a visual artist, and she likes how art and gardening go hand-in- hand, because they are both about creating. She has been inspired by her surroundings.
Since moving here, Victoria has received her certification as a Master Gardener at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. She even learned how to be a beekeeper through the Extension Office.
Victoria volunteers her time helping with the gardens at the Athens Community Center on Aging. She also works in the pollinator garden at the Lauren Rogers Center at St. Mary’s Hospital, where they have a healing walking path.
Victoria is interested in the healing power of nature and art. Her educational background is in fine arts and psychology.
She previously had an art therapy practice in Ohio that helped chemically dependent teenagers. She began her portraiture business to spend more time at home with her five children. After that, and a stint in real estate, she moved to Georgia.
“Art has stuck with me,” said Victoria. “Artists look at the world differently. We are always looking at the light. Georgia has wonderful golden hours, moody, foggy hours and beautiful, clear sunny skies.”
“Aspen Sunshine” is an 18x24-inch acrylic on canvas.
During her time in isolation throughout the pandemic, she was able to create large installations and experiment with texture in her art. Her grandchildren inspired this technique. They love to touch her paintings, so she created “touchable” paintings with lots of texture.
Victoria works a lot with alcohol ink and acrylics on resin. Her body of work explores the elements of air, fire, earth and water. Referring to her landscape paintings as “mood art,” she wants viewers to discern the meaning for themselves.
Presently, Victoria has started a garden coaching business in which she consults on the gardening needs of her clients, whether it’s a desire for a kitchen windowsill herb garden or raised beds for planting. She also consults on the placement and choice of sculptural garden art.
Victoria learned some meta-phorical wisdom from her new experiences.
“Our life has seasons,” she said. “Find a season where you bloom best.”
This digital piece is entitled “Winter Celebration” and is inspired by a poem.
sWendy Cooper is the executive director of the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation. PAGE 56 | OCONEE THE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2022
Courtesy Janis Hanna Victoria
Courtesy Janis Hanna Victoria
Courtesy Janis Hanna Victoria