In the City

As I lay near the waterfall in Jamison Park reading The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, a tiny red spider ran to and fro over the pages of my book. Now, multicolored leaves are rattling like skeletons all over the sidewalks. I think about how I plan to use the common writers' instructional phrase: Write what you know. I know a lot about my beautiful city, and I am a woman who embraces diversity. Writing, drawing, and painting in Portland, Oregon is an experience that provides favorable conditions for the muse. Writers recycle all that drama!

Writing in Portland is also about exposure. So much has happened for my career as a writer and artist here in the city. I've become respected by many people whom I admire internationally.

Exposure. I love modeling for professional artists! Among them, Buzz Siler is a famous painter of abstract women who was able to invent a method of twirling acrylic house paint, later mixed with oil paint, from a stick that makes black magic outlines. I am his $12,000 gargoyle in creams and black called "Huntress." Check out his website at or ask to see the canvas on the corner of Marshall and 11th Streets in the Pearl District, the heart of the Rose City hugged in the curve of the Willamette River. I have also acted for corporate training videos, and can't get over seeing my hair on the television screen. 

Art Therapy Workshop

As I wrap up the end of my B.A. in Psychology moving forward to a Ph.D. in Child Psychology, I want to specialize my career in healing young victims of trauma and abuse with art projects. This seems like a fun, liberating, and relieving plan for children. Just sketching, painting, or coloring a picture of your family can truly help you accept what you may see in them, if you are a kid. Of course, there are many more complex ideas in my forthcoming notebook . . .

Recently, I enjoyed the brief opportunity to volunteer at a social service center in Portland, Oregon called Bud Clark Commons. They mostly help veterans. For perhaps 6 months, I lead an open, structured workshop that embraced people who suffer trauma and psychological disturbance, and challenged them to express their thoughts and feelings on paper. For example, we drew from memories in one class, focusing on what seemed most intensely charged with emotion.

Also, Bud Clark Commons and a number of other social service centers in the heart of upper Portland hosted a huge art show known as "Art with Heart." For my local working center, BCC, I was on the jury and got to show many of my German Abstract Expressionist paintings. A friend of mine from New York City displayed some of her watercolors. Sally Franz is a published writer, and now edits manuscripts and travels globally from her new home here. The suffering got space in the show, too! Any capitol funded further ministry.   

This is a self-portrait by an intelligent, homeless sketch artist named Howard. He prefers to work with graphite.

Discover My Art

With honor I present the portfolio of my artistic experiences, education in as much as it is so far, and accomplishments. My studio teachers described me as a "German Abstract Expressionist." My favorite media with which to create are graphite, oil paints and pastels, though foremost, of course, remains writing. An example in paints follows the link to my portfolio:

 www.janagifford.deviantart.com

  

Further Academic Adventure

I am excited to celebrate my nomination into The National Society of Collegiate Scholors (NSCS)! NSCS is the honor society for certain high acheiving students. Upon acceptance into this generous association, among other honorable privileges, many scholorships become available to the member.

The National Society of Collegiate Scholors wrote to me this:

"You should feel proud of this prestigious national recognition of your outstanding work . . . Your hard work has earned you a place among the elite of today's [univeristy] students."

As of February 27, 2012, I am celebrated nationally as an above-average scholor. As I continue to acheive my goals, I look forward to sharing through more literature and artistic expressions my learning. Thank you for being a part of my career!