Janna Kumi is a Canadian artist based in Metro Vancouver. She studied natural resource management and forestry, working for over 30 years in senior management positions in British Columbia.  In 2006 she began part-time fine art studies at Emily Carr University and then completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of British Columbia in 2015. Since then, her art practice has evolved into a unique body of work comprised of mostly drawings and mixed media works centered mainly upon the tree – specifically, the bark.

 Janna is the recipient of two Canada Council Grants and is a Signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists.

Artist Statement

My work is centered around the emotional response to function, form, and patterns that I have primarily for small, overlooked, and seemingly insignificant components of the natural world.  Trees and forests hold special interest, with my focus mostly on the micro-level of the shapes and colours of bark and wood, and of the plant life that it supports.

The artistic process starts with close observation and is based on many photographic reference images I personally shoot. The work is meticulous and is presented closely cropped, inviting viewers to draw near for a closer look, which allows a more intimate portrait to emerge.  Colour, pattern, and luminosity are enhanced to let the complexity shine through.  Drawings are on paper or wood panels using coloured pencils and ink.

Throughout the creative process, I strive to keep my artistic practice as environmentally sustainable as possible by using simple pencils and ink on paper or wood.   I search for that fluidity of line and sensitivity of colour that describes shapes and forms. I celebrate what the eye often overlooks without disguising or hiding the meaning.