Jane Fawkes—textile artist, painter, illustrator

Art Inspired by Dreams, Archetype, and the Caves of Lascaux

“My art journey has led me to many unexpected places—down to the bottom where dragons and wolves lurk, and up to the bright places that have no name,” says Jane Fawkes.

Jane has been on this journey for over sixty years, and it has led her through multiple genres, media, and aesthetic realms. She has created room-sized installations, colourful quilts, whimsical illustrations, abstract and figurative painting, prints, photographs, and more.

Themes include mythology, nature, pattern, archetype, eco-feminism, and Buddhism, all expressed in a variety of moods. Jane’s series inspired by the cave paintings of Lascaux is dreamlike and haunting, while her mandala series is bright and cheerful, but both evoke a feeling of timelessness.

“I used to be dismayed by my need to work in a variety of ways—I thought “real artists” stick to one style, but now realize that I work in a spiral, with each revolution feeding and expanding from the last to enrich the result.

“My future work? I never know. That is where both the fear and excitement lie. I no longer have the dexterity and patience for working with fabric and I like the immediacy of painting. I also enjoy experimenting with print making. Above all, my art is about play—a dance with shape and colour,” says Jane.

Fawkes began making art in the 1950s while taking night courses at the Vancouver School of Art. She has a diploma in textile art from Northwest Handcraft House and a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Emily Carr College. She has exhibited her work extensively over the past 50 years. In 2017, Jane created a website that collects much of her six-decades-worth of work in a comprehensive online archive.

Getting in touch: Visit Jane Fawkes’ website for contact information.