Emerging from a family of artists, Jan Dilenschneider has painted all her life. Yet, she never had a desire to exhibit or sell her work until the spring of 2013, when a friend simply insisted on buying two paintings.
Soon afterward her studio doors opened to the world. She was offered a solo show at the prestigious Galerie Pierre-Alain Challier in Paris’ historic Le Marais district, which started a remarkable chain of events: Two additional annual solo gallery shows in Paris followed by a solo museum show at the Bellarmine Museum in Fairfield, Conn. that broke attendance records. (See the full list in EXHIBITIONS, at the top of this site.)
Jan Dilenschneider has developed a unique style of expressionistic painting. Though many art critics have compared her work to the Impressionists, she says that while she loves their color palette at heart she is an Expressionist. Her inspiration comes from the ever-changing landscape around her Connecticut home. Living by the sea, she is inspired by shore grasses bending in the breeze, blue skies reflected in the cool water and extraordinary trees silhouetted against green lawns.
BIO Jan Dilenschneider-2016.pdf
Dilenschneider has developed a unique type of diptych that she calls “pairs,” because they do not have to be hung – nor sold – together. They are painted at the same time and with the same palette, an exercise that keeps the gesture and color fresh. She goes back and forth between the canvases until she gets it just right.
In addition to strong gestures, Dilenschneider is also known for her unique color sense. She likes to see colors “sing” or “vibrate” together by juxtapositioning strong, clear or complimentary color schemes.
Dilenschneider’s most recent work combines landscapes and abstract images. One can see in them her gradual merging of the abstract into the landscape canvases.
Dilenschneider received her training at The Ohio State University, The National Academy of Design in New York, the North Shore Art League in Illinois, and the Silvermine Art Center in Connecticut.
Philanthropic work is also an essential part of her life. She is a member of the board of the Connecticut Arts Council and is also a board member of Family Centers, Inc. in Greenwich, Conn. and Catholic Charities. She has been honored with the Helen Gratz Rockefeller Award for Outstanding Volunteerism and the Family Champion Award from the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies. She has also been honored by the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport for her artwork and her service.
Dilenschneider established the Janet Hennessey Dilenschneider Scholar Rescue Award in the Arts, which is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas that oversees the Fulbright Scholars program and helps rescue artists from countries in turmoil. The program created with IIE relocated a Syrian artist and her family to New Jersey, where she is a professor at Montclair State University and has applied for political asylum.
ECO VISION
HOMAGE TO LEAVES
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
When you look at my work, please “ fall in love” with nature. My work is dedicated to highlighting the certainty of GLOBAL WARMING. Ours is a beautiful planet and I encourage all to take good care of it. My VISION is for a HEALTHY ECOLOGY because we all care.
Being immersed in nature and living on Long Island Sound with the beauty of lush grasses, moving blue water and ethereal sunlight, I am motivated to paint my passion. Landscape is my means of communication. I seek to create a work that will “speak” to you. I do this through two elements: COLOR and GESTURE. Color which adds the JOY as one hue modifies the one next to it and they interact — I say they “sing” together. Gesture adds the energy and passion. Recently I have started staining the canvas then covering it with a very dark Prussian Blue or brown. I then “dance” across the canvas with a squeegee and great gestures to reveal the under colors. Artists often say “Color gets all the glory, but value does all the work”.
My goal is for you to participate in the content and message. And to capture a meaning far beyond the actual objects.
“IF WORDS COULD SAY EVERYTHING, WE WOULD NOT NEED PAINTERS”
-Jan Dilenschneider
