Janel Jacobson started her career as a potter in the 70′s. After moving to rural Minnesota she began to sketch small scenes from nature in her spare time, eventually incorporating these scenes on the surface of her pots. The work continued to evolve and the sketches became three dimensional low-relief sculptures carved on to porcelain clay.
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[private_archives]But it wasn’t enough for the artist and she found herself frequently carving wood blocks to satisfy the urge to turn her sketches into sculpture. Making the decision to put the clay aside and concentrate on carving in the mid 90′s, Jacobson quickly transitioned from potter to wood carver.
Red Lily, boxwood, 5.25 x 1.4 x 1.3 inches
Night Stalker, boxwood, 3.6 x 1.2 x 1.4 inches
Night Stalker in progress
Today her small wood carvings, ranging from tiny netsuke to small sculpture, are in the permanent collection of several museums, including the Smithsonian’s Renwick Galley and the Museum of Art and Design (NY). The realistic wood carvings, graceful and exquisitely crafted, capture the smallest details of natural life – the curled edge of a dried leaf, tiny beetle perched on a bean pod, a grub peeking out of an acorn.
Janel Jacobson at work
Last year Jacobson won the prestigious $100,000 Enduring Vision Award from the Bush Foundation – this support will allow her to increase both her skills and tools as she continues her evolution as an artist.
More about Jacobson from the Bush Foundation, including a video of the artist talking about inspiration and the motivation behind her work.
Read an article about the artist and the award on finewoodworking.com.
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Wow, she is one amazingly talented lady.
I wish I could do that. Wonderful.
Magnificant, don’t you just want to run your hands over those pieces….
I’ve followed her work for years, after seeing a small porcelain celadon box at the Alfred University Ceramics Museum in the 90′s(husband was in grad school there at the time)….her work just leaped at me….then I saw her netsuke’s at the Philadelphia Craft Show some years back…totally blown away again…she just keeps getting better and better!
What a wonderful video Susan. Thanks so much for the link. She’s an inspiration for sure.