Print Gallery
Meet Janet Tam London
I was trained as a counselor, receiving my Master's Degree from Antioch University in 1974. For twenty five years I worked in community colleges, teaching psychology and personal growth classes and counseling. At age 50, I enrolled in an "Artist's Way" class, and two things happened: I began creating art using pressed flowers and leaves and later began offering "Artist's Way" classes myself because it helped so much to develop my own creativity. Kindness and compassion are very important components of my teaching, and watching women move from the darkness into the light as their creative skills blossom is deeply rewarding. For the past ten years I have been selling pressed flower art pictures, prints, cards and home decor items and teaching a variety of creativity classes. I enjoy gardening, NIA dancing, meditation, traveling and spending time with my family and friends.
"With Janet's gentle coaching, I have awakened my creative spirit. I now feel energized and free to express myself and have begun to realize some of my biggest dreams." -Cheryl W.
About My Work
When I began my journey into this art form, I was experiencing a mid-life crisis that manifested in depression. As I started gathering and pressing flowers, leaves, even weeds from woods, roadsides, wild and manicured gardens, the life-affirming qualities of nature began to transform the depression into joy and happiness. Through my art I want to share the miraculous beauty of nature and its ability to heal and connect us with a sense of hope and optimism.
"I thank God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and for the blue sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is Yes." -e.e. cummings
About Flower Pressing
Pressing flowers is an art in itself. I use the Microfleur press for most of my pressing. The flowers are laid in the press and heated in a microwave oven for brief spurts. The resulting color is more vibrant than when a traditional flower press is used. Occasionally I use traditional wood presses for delicate flowers and for the greens. The placement of the flower is important as often I want the vibrant centers to show. I paint the greens to keep them from fading.
"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change." -Buddha