About the Artist

Janet Rawlings is a professional, self-taught, award-winning fine artist who has had a love for creating art throughout her life. As a young child Janet loved to doodle and draw animals in accurate proportions. As a young adult, she chose Pastel Pencils as her medium, and painted wildlife as a hobby. Her artistic interests grew into a career as a Technical Designer / Drafter for ten years, which ended prematurely in her early forties due to health issues. It was then that Janet dove solely into fine art. She then discovered a love for Soft Pastels as her primary medium.  

Janet lived in Oregon for many years where she grew to love the beauty of nature.  While in southern Oregon, she co-created and for six years directed a weekly art group in Medford.  Later, she moved to central Oregon offering her the opportunity for more exploration of Oregon’s diverse and breathtaking landscapes.

In 2022, she married her sweetheart and moved to Montana where she is inspired by her deep love for the beauty of Montana life.   Working in Soft Pastels, she paints the region’s horses, cattle, and sweeping plein air vistas that reflect both the quiet beauty and working spirit of the land.  Her work emphasizes careful observation, strong draftsmanship, and the sense of serenity we are surrounded by.

She is an active member of professional art organizations and remains dedicated to growing in her craft studing under numerous renowned artists such as:  Jill Soukup, Liz Haywood-Sullivan, Richard McKinley, Ilene Geiger-Stanfield, Christine Debrowsky, Barbara Jaenicke, Christine Ivers, Alain Picard, Dennis O’Hagan, Marla Baggetta and others. 

She has also taken many college level art classes, both in person and online.  She has been commissioned by both Commercial and private customers to create the vision they desired. 

 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Montana Painters Alliance

Pastel Society of Montana

Livingston Art Center

Pastel Artists of Oregon

Pastel Society of the West Coast

Plein Air Painters of Oregon

Sagebrushers Art Society

American Women Artists

Out West Art Show and Sale

Great Western Show

Pastel Society of America

She enjoys participating in local art activities like Shows, Paint-Outs, Workshops, Competitions and business displays. She is also connected online through several Facebook groups including:

Absolute Pastels

International Association of Pastel Societies

Monet Café Art Group

Monthly Pastel Painting (member) Marla Baggetta

Nature Artists

Northwest Plain Air Artist Group

Passionate About Pastels

Pastel Artist Atelier

Pastel Painters United

Pastel Society of Colorado

Pastel Society of America Facebook

Plein Air Painters

Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada

The Painterly Society (member) Alain Picard

Thriving Christian Artists

Womens Equine Art

Womens Artist Group of Bend

...and many more.

SELECT HONORS AND AWARDS

"First Place" Sweet Pea Winter Show 2025

"Honorable Mention" (2) Sweet Pea Winter Show 2024

"First Place" and "Honorable Mention" Sweet Pea Summer Show 2024

"First Place", Pastel Artists of Oregon Winter Show 2021

“Best of Show” (Local Historical Buildings Event)

“Best of Show” (Historical Flour Mill Show)

“Reserve Grand Champion - Professional” (Jackson County Fair, Oregon)

“Painting of the Year” (2008, 2011, Southern Oregon Society of Artists)

....Plus many Ribbons from Artist competitions