Janet Cristenfeld's life has been an artistic and spiritual journey. After studying painting and photography at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, she moved to New York City and continued to make and exhibit art. Her work has focused on depicting the emotions, sensuality, and spirit of human beings, particularly through the imagery of women. In oil, watercolor or pencil, she creates portraits of imaginary people, inspired by her inner contemplation and the surrounding world. She has also depicted spiritual figures as a reflection of consciousness.
"I see art as an expression of the soul, turning conscious and unconscious thoughts, feelings and states of being into a visual manifestation. Nudes and portraits are forms of art where we reveal our naked, raw, authentic selves, without cover. Christ and Angels carry a message of love, forgiveness, and being true to your Divine Spirit and painting those images is a way of immersing myself in the essence of their message. The colors I choose for a particular figure are very natural and real to me, and as color is energy, that energy is always expressing some aspect of our being. My belief is that art heals by touching us and helping us communicate, and is a means of expanding our awareness. Through art we bring our inner knowing into this world."
Janet has exhibited in solo and group shows in the New York area, including the Parrish Museum in Southampton, NY, and in Washington, DC. She is a recipient of the 1994 Project Residencies Award from the Hillwood Art Museum, Brookville, NY, sponsored, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts.
In addition to her art career, Janet has a practice as a Spiritual Healer and is a Reiki Master. She has channeled a unique set of mystical symbols and phrases, called Souligraphy™: Symbols of Prayer & Transformation. She uses them in her private healing sessions and has launched a line of jewelry of the Symbols. She is currently creating a book, meditation cards, and an app of drawings of the Souligraphy™ Symbols. For more information on Souligraphy™, visit www.souligraphy.com.
Quote from Audrey Regan, Audart Gallery and Art-Is-Life Magazine
"A master of technique, Janet Cristenfeld applies paint flawlessly as though it were skin and blends it meticulously, creating the illusion of inner light. Her figurative drawing is powerful but restrained. The simple curve of an eyelid, sweep of a hand or circular path of an embrace captures the emotion she is trying to convey. Janet also circumscribes her figures with a flat, wide, black line which draws the viewer back to the center of the work - to the source of the emotion."
