Janet E. Higgins

Explore Janet’s Work

A Glimpse into Janet’s Creative Process

I assume my art reflects me, who I am. Perhaps artists are more connected to their neurosis?

My work has two parts to it: the creative process and the physical production of a piece. An idea comes in and then during the actual execution of the work I hope to allow for a relationship with the piece as it pushes back on me daring me to create what I think is in my head. There is a battle and then hopefully eventual victory over the challenge of bringing something to life. If I’m lucky and able to go with the flow and, beg pardon for the cliche, but the art surprises me as if I am the vehicle but not the creator.

A lot of my work attempts to convey my sense of humor and my reaction to how I view the world around me, straying occasionally into something beautiful as well as into something dark or tongue in cheek. The pieces below illustrate this.

Big Arms

I hadn’t done a proper self-portrait since I was in college about 40 odd years ago, and at this point in my art career feel that generally any piece an artist creates is a self portrait of some kind – even when it doesn’t resemble the maker.

BIG ARMS is my reference to the multi-tasking contemporary life asks of us. I decided to combine the “vehicle” with the ceramic figure, which helps keep the constant activity perpetuated. The “hair on fire” enhances the urgency of the image.

Man Pushing Wall

I can create a mechanical movement and then depart from making machines into honoring ideas and humor (the happy accident). In the MAN PUSHING WALL piece, Sisyphus not only pushes the wall but also manages to slam his head into the Wall. The piece suggested head slamming to me and I went along with it. In that way the piece and I are connected by the artwork’s suggestion to me.