Hello there!
Welcome to the website that showcases my paper art! I’m Jana… the founder, abstract quilling artist, and the J. in J. Dunn Studio.
Why paper? This question comes up often, and I LOVE IT! These two little words let me share the incredible journey paper has taken me on. Paper not only facilitated my transition into being an artist but also laid the foundation for a beautiful midlife transformation through its creative process. But let’s start from the beginning!
I’ve been working with paper as a creative medium for nearly two decades. Initially, I chose it because it was inexpensive, readily available, and required no tools other than my hands. During the Great Recession, my business management job left me craving a creative outlet to counterbalance the stress and responsibilities of my then-current career position.
In my early career, I was fortunate to hold positions that combined creativity with business. My time working with a well-known greeting card company (yep – the one that makes all those sugar-induced-coma movies you either love to watch, or love to poke fun at.) later transitioned into a 16-year career in the interior design industry. However, the recession forced me back into business roles, leaving me with no creative responsibilities. I desperately needed a way to turn off my business brain and MAKE something.
That lovely recession did not allow extra funds to start more costly art practices like painting or ceramics or sculpture. And I wanted to be able to practice that creative outlet in the comfort of my own home. I needed a simple material, and paper felt like a safe choice.
Paper was familiar to me. Not only was the cost of other art materials intimidating, but the materials themselves were unknown to me. Coming from the greeting card industry years before, paper was something I was familiar with. I could walk into Paper Source, my favorite greeting card store at the time, and shop their Paper Bar and all the beautiful colors before me!
The process of working with paper kept things simple at a time in my life when I needed simple.
Armed with an inexpensive material in a beautiful array of colors and my toolbox of two hands, I got to work! I didn’t discover my current art form of Abstract Quilling until years later. I originally cut and folded paper, creating shapes and appreciating the meditative motion the work provided.
Jumping ahead, I have been blessed with local success in my creative practice, and celebrate by showcasing my most recent works here on my website! I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I have enjoyed creating them.
In my opening paragraph I wrote:
“Paper not only facilitated my transition into being an artist but also laid the foundation for a beautiful midlife transformation through its creative process.”
My journey with paper most importantly taught me to pay attention to what thoughts and ideas surfaced, and continues to surface, while in the motion of creativity. Over the years and during a midlife transition, combining my daily ritual of creativity with exercises in reflection, allowed one big idea to surface – sharing what I’ve learned through the creative process with others and helping them step onto the path of their own journey of self-discovery.
J. Dunn Studio led me to the creation of another studio: The Studio Authentic – an online platform that celebrates the daily exercise of creativity and reflection, leading to clarity and courage to make serious transformation in life that honors your truest self.
So, to wrap this up, when I get the next inevitable set of questions about my artwork beyond ‘why paper’, and I provide these answers:
1.) How long does it take you? (I don’t keep track.)
2.) How many pieces of paper are in this? (I have no idea.)
3.) Don’t you go stir-crazy making all those little pieces?? (No. I don’t go stir-crazy.)
You can better understand that I have been provided the opportunity to share that creativity, for me, isn’t all about the end result, but more importantly, what surfaces in my thoughts WHILE IN THE THICK of it. And I hope my own journey with creativity, and what I have learned from it, encourages others to view their own creativity in a new way.
I hope you’ll join me at The Studio Authentic! (Launching August, 2024) This new venture is where I blend my passion for creativity with reflection to inspire others on their own journey of self-discovery.
And don’t forget to keep an eye on J. Dunn Studio for the latest paper art adventures and updates. Whether you’re drawn to the intricate, sometimes crazy beauty of Abstract Quilling, or curious about the evolution of my creative practice, there’s always something new and inspiring to discover.
Let’s continue this creative journey together, exploring new possibilities and celebrating the art that connects us all!
‘til we next chat –
