About Us

Janet Searfoss
Batik Artist

Janet Searfoss is a painter of Batik, the antique appearing paintings done with hot wax
and dyes that often resemble stained glass in fabric form. Janet combines the ancient
craft of batik with the art of painting . Her technique is often a radical departure from
the traditional batik. Janet often combines acrylics and fabric paints with the hot wax
layering, creating her distinctive style of mixed-media batik painting which she refers to
as "American Batik" or wax-resist painting.

Her paintings often will take over 100 hours to complete. "I want my Batiks to have a
visual dialogue with the viewer"- Art that speaks to the heart. The Paintings show
various perceptions of reality and are intended to stimulate the imagination.

Janet's professional education began at Michigan State University and continued at
Wayne State University where she earned her degree. She taught high school art in the
Detroit area for eight years before her career with Batik. Janet shows and sells her
Batiks at Art Shows throughout the Country. She has won numerous awards and is
considered one of the Masters of Batik.

Husband, Harold, does the custom matting, framing and giclee printing. He makes it
possible to do the art show circuit throughout the country. The art acts as a portal to the
spiritual realm for her and others. Imagination and intuition is her way of connecting the
physical with the spiritual. Some of the art has deep symbolic meaning while other
pieces are light hearted. The art is the beginning of a story with the viewers becoming
the storytellers. The image opens up the "book" allowing the story to unfold and
allowing the light to enter.

Past Awards

Best of Category - Decorative Fiber         Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff        St. Joseph, Mich   July 9, 10, 2011

Purchase Award                  Piccolo Spoleto Crafts Fair          Charleston, SC      June 3, 2011

Honorable mention       Sanibel Arts and Crafts Festival     Sanibel Island FL     Feb.2011
www.SanibleCaptivaDaily.com       (photos of event)

Honorable mention           Amelia Island Art Festival     Amelia Island, Fl.           Oct. 2010

Second Place          Whalehead Club Arts Festival         Corolla, NC             June 23, 2010

Award of Distinction (2nd Place)                       Blowing Rock, NC              August 15, 2009

Award of Excellence   (Best of Show)              Blowing Rock, NC                    May 17, 2008

Judge's Choice Blue Ribbon      Amelia Island Fall Art Festival                Amelia Island, Fl
                                                                                          Nov. 2007
Fourth Place 32nd Annual Atalaya Art Festival      Huntington Beach, SC         Sept. 2007

Award of Excellence Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair     Ann Arbor, Michigan,          July 2007

First Place   37th Annual Golden Isles Festival    St. Simons Island, Ga.     October 2006

Award of Excellence   Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair     Ann Arbor, Michigan,        July 2006

      Batik Exhibit at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Upstate Visual Arts Gallery
                                                        July-August 2006

             Chosen to design the artwork for the 33rd Annual Dexter-Ann Arbor Michigan Run Race,
                                    Ann Arbor, Michigan   June 4, 2006

Honorable mention            Inman Park Arts Festival,            Atlanta, Ga. April 2006

First Place            34th Annual Outdoor Art show,            Fairhope, Al. March 2006

Second Place           Golden Isle Art Festival,       St. Simons Island, Ga. Oct. 2005

Bartow Art Guild Award             Arts Festival 34               Cartersville, Ga. Oct. 2005

Second Place           St. Augustine Arts Festival,            St. Augustine, Fl.   April 2005