Galveston Bay, Texas | www.kayakartist.com
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SALT + SKY STUDIO
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Rene Wiley Gallery, Galveston Island, Texas
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“Rachel Wiley-Janota is an award winning visual artist working primarily in mixed media painting and film photography.
Artist and mother, Wiley-Janota spends her time working in her home studio on the Texas Gulf Coast. She is known for her Gulf Coast landscapes, with her focus on local salt marshes and clouded skies, as she often views from her kayak. Wiley-Janota's paintings are featured in private collections around the world. She is represented by her family’s gallery, Rene Wiley Gallery, on Galveston Island, Texas, where she also enjoys working with other artists in her community a few days a month. While traveling, she captures everyday American landscapes from the road through film photography and collects paper ephemera and vintage photographs to use in her mixed media works.”
Available for maritime industry and coastal commissions, TWIC certified.
Certification:
TWIC card, Transportation Worker Identification Credential, security clearance for maritime industry property and coastal commissions.
Selected Awards
International Art Consortium Award, University of West Bohemia, Plzen Czech Republic, Hunting Art Prize Finalist 2012 and 2013, and Honor Student of the Year, Fine Art Department at University of Houston Clear Lake, published photographer, Seities Magazine, Calgary, Alberta
Artist Statement
“I’m attracted to both intuitive and analytical decision making in my art-making process, and I try to let evidence of both remain in my finished works. In most of my works I want to combine representational forms with a sensitivity to subtle color and texture, embracing both spontaneity and discipline in my process for both photographs and paintings.
There are often numerous stories within my works, some constructed by the artist and hopefully more interpreted by the viewer. I love how stories tend to stick with us, and how they can influence the way we see the world. So I’ve intended for my works to be both intimate and universal in this way. My work can offer an escape from our fast-moving world, and a much needed pause and connection to both our human history and to the natural world that surrounds us.
My intention as an artist, in whatever media I choose, is to reveal and share new ways of seeing the overlooked in our everyday lives, highlighting the magic in the mundane. I'm attempting to thoughtfully see, create, and share as much as possible in the short life that I’ve been given, and I aspire to reflect the sincerity of all of these interests in my diverse body of work.”
Curriculum Vitae
Solo Exhibitions:
2022 FRESH CATCH, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX (Oct. 2022)
2021 Golden Gulf Coast, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX (Oct. 2021)
2020 On the Horizon, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX (Oct. 2020)
2019 SALT + SKY, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX (Oct. 2019)
2018 The Menagerie: Landscapes + Stories, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX (Oct. 2018)
2017 End of the Road: Retro Galveston Lost and Found, René Wiley Gallery (October 14, 2017)
2016 born of the sky, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX ( October 7, 2016-November 26, 2016)
2015 Eventide: René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX (October 10 – November 24, 2015)
2015 instant diaries: polaroids & paintings, Gallery Jatad, at Bosta Coffee & Wine, Houston, TX,
(April 25 – July 25, 2015)
2014 New Landscapes: René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX
(October 11 – November 24, 2014)
2014 aeonian echoes, FotoFest International Exhibit, Gallery Jatad, Houston, TX (March 13 - April 26)
2013 ceremonies of the air: peripheral views of galveston island,
René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX (October 5 - November 24, 2013)
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2017 Commissioned to paint the USS Gabrielle Giffords Naval Ship, Galveston, TX
2014 Honor Student of the Year in Fine Arts, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX
Honorable Mention, 2014 BFA Juried Exhibition, University of Houston-Clear Lake
2013 Hunting Art Prize Finalist 2013, Hunting PLC, Houston, TX
2012 Hunting Art Prize Finalist 2012, Hunting PLC, Houston, TX
International Art Consortium Award, University of West Bohemia, Plzen, Czech Republic
International Education Fee Award Scholarship, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX
2011 Best of Show Award, 2011 Winter Juried Exhibition, The Arts Alliance Center, Clear Lake, TX
2009 Dean's Award Scholarship, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX
2008 People's Choice Award, Fall 2008 Juried Student Show, College of the Mainland, Texas City, TX
2003 Academic Scholarship, University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
Education:
2015 Bachelors of Fine Arts, University of Houston Clear Lake (scheduled)
Studied under Jason Makepeace, Sandria Hu, Nick DeVries, Matthew Linton
2012 University of West Bohemia, Plzen, Czech Republic
Associate of Visual Arts, College of the Mainland, Texas City, TX
Studied under Mark Greenwalt
2011 Associate of Art, Galveston College, Galveston, TX
2004 Glassell School of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Houston, TX
2004 University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
Two Person Exhibition:
2018-2019 Bill Meek Studio & Gallery, Houston, TX (Nov. 30 - Jan 18)
2014 Georgetown Arts Center with Rene Wiley, Georgetown, TX, (July 25 – August 31)
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2012-2023 Group Exhibitions for ArtWalk, every six weeks at René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, Texas
2016 Mementos: Winter Juried Exhibition, Cannon Beach Gallery, Cannon Beach, Oregon
2015 Rockin Rollin Prints Juried Exhibition, Print Matters, Williams Tower, Houston, TX
Winged Galveston: 2015 Group Exhibition, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX
Barrier Island: 2015 Group Exhibition, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX
2014 2014 Bachelors of Fine Arts Juried Exhibition, University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, Texas
Oh Snap 2, Juried Exhibition of Cell Phone Photography, College of the Mainland Art Gallery
Seities STREETS issue, Photography Publication Launch & Exhibition ,
Shelf Life Books, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
When They Roll Up The Sidewalks, Group Exhibition, University of Houston at Clear Lake, TX
2013 TWELVE, Group Exhibition of Photography, July 13, 2013, The Grand 1894 Opera House
Summer Reflections, Group Exhibition, May 31 - July 12, 2013, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston
2013 Hunting Art Prize Gala, May 4, 2013, Friedkin Companies Campus, Houston, TX
Foggy Illuminations, January 2013 Group Exhibition, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX
2012 2012 Hunting Art Prize Gala, April 28 2012, Friedkin Companies Campus, Houston, TX
Summer Light, 2012 Group Exhibition, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX
Oh Snap, 2012 Juried Photography Exhibition, College of The Mainland Art Gallery, Texas City,
Light and Water, 2012 Group Exhibition, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX
2011 Winter Juried Exhibition, Juror: Nina Makepeace,The Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake
Fall Juried Student Show, College of the Mainland Art Gallery, Texas City, TX
Night and Day, 2011 Group Exhibition, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX
2008 Fall 2008 Juried Student Show, College of the Mainland Art Gallery, Texas City, TX
Publications:
2022 Galveston Monthly Magazine, Cover Image, November 2022
2022 Galveston Monthly Magazine, Cover Image, June 2022
2022 Soaking It Up, Coast Monthly, May 2022
2021 Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine, May/June, RED Award National Winner, LJ Designs
2021 Galveston Monthly Magazine, Cover Image, May 2021
2021 Interview with Upcoming Artists, January 2021
2019 We're Lucky, Coast Monthly Magazine, August 2019
2018 Galveston Monthly Magazine, Cover Image, November 2018
Galveston Monthly Magazine, Cover Image, July 2018
2016 A Family Tradition, Coast Monthly Magazine, August 2016
2015 Galveston Monthly Magazine, cover image, September 2015
2014 aeonian echoes, Gallery Jatad, 2014 catalog of exhibition images, Houston, TX
Culture Scene, Houston Chronicle, April 10, 2014, Houston, TX
THEME:STREETS SEITIES no. 003, Winter 13/14, Juried Publication, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Shallow Dance, Matty Sullivan, collection of essays, selected cover image
Inspired by Marfa, Students Create Their Own Art Haven, Kallie Hayde,
The Signal Newspaper,University of Houston-Clear Lake, Page 7.
2013 Featured Artist, Donna Gable Hatch, Galveston Monthly Magazine, October 2014 Issue, Pages 48-50.
2013 Treasures Magazine, Art & Life in Galveston County, First Edition 2013, Fischer Bessi, Page 13.
2012 Alliance Provides Forum for Artists, Lori Meeks, Houston Chronicle, January 3, Vol. 70, Page 8B.
Volunteer Service:
2015-2016 Seeding Galveston, Urban Garden & Food Bank Donations, Galveston, TX
2013-2016 Galveston Humane Society, Galveston, TX
2014-2016 Ronald McDonald House, Galveston, TX
2010-2012 Volunteer Biologist Aide, The Rainforest at Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX
2009-2010 Art Teacher, Sunshine Center, Galveston Arts Center, Galveston, TX
2007-2008 Volunteer Biologist Aide, The Aquarium and The Rainforest at Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX
Professional Experience:
2009-Current Gallery Assistant, René Wiley Gallery, Galveston, TX
2008-Current Private Painting Instructor, Rachel Wiley-Janota Fine Art, Galveston, TX
2011-2015 “Art for All” Education Outreach Instructor, Galveston Arts Center, Galveston, TX
2010-2012 Galveston Arts Columnist, The Parrot Newspaper, Galveston, TX
2004-2012 Office Manager, Dr. Richard C. Ressling, D.D.S. Inc., Houston, TX
Charitable Donations of Artworks 2013-2019:
Galveston Historical Foundation, 1877 Tall Ship Elissa
Galveston ISD Educational Foundation
Ronald McDonald House of Galveston
Galveston Island Humane Society
Galveston Chapter AAZK
Galveston’s Seafarers Center
Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council
Muscular Dystrophy Association Houston
Galveston Island’s Own Farmers Market
Galveston Island’s Lifeguards
Coastal Conservation Association of Galveston
Galveston Island Tree Conservancy
Moody Methodist Church
SMART Family Literacy
Galveston Art Center
Family Service Center of Galveston
May/June 2021 - Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine, RED Award National Winner, LJ Designs
Interview with Upcoming Artists, January 2021
https://www.upcomingartists.org/allinterviews/rachel-wiley-janota
"Rachel Wiley-Janota is a Galveston Island-based Visual Artist. She took time out of her packed diary to talk to Upcoming Artists about her work and the beautiful synergy between parenthood and creating art."
Rachel Wiley-Janota, Visual Artist
What is your weapon of choice?
I'm mostly a painter and photographer, so I always need a camera, my iPhone or 35mm film or polaroids, and at least one notebook with graphite pencils to get started. If I'm not outside working, I use photographs, prints and small studies in the studio. I work with watercolours, inks, acrylics, oils, beeswax, encaustic and gold leaf. I have watercolour papers, hardwood boards, and canvases to paint on and use lots of painting and putty knives, paper towels and wash brushes, spray bottles with water or alcohol, and maybe a hot plate, sandpaper and a blow torch. And if I am in the studio, I love to look through my collection of found photography and books for materials and inspiration.
How did you get started as a creator?
I was raised by a painter, but I wanted to be a biologist since I was young. I really believe we are all born creators, but I reconnected with painting in my early adulthood when I took a brilliant drawing class from Mark Greenwalt, who has both fine art and biology backgrounds.
My mom, grandmother and sister all painted with traditional oils, which I didn't connect with, but learning mixed media really got me excited to work again. Art-making then became everything to me, like a language I needed to speak with others. For me, it was like hearing blues music or reading beat and zen poetry for the first time, once I discovered it, I realized just how much I needed it in my life every day.
What gets you most excited about your work?
I’m always getting excited and inspired by something to work on, but I try to focus on the gulf coast landscape and my found photography. When people connect with what I make, it means a lot to me. I realize how lucky I am to be a full time, working artist with a studio in my home, and I am immensely grateful for it.
Where do you get inspiration from?
Everything, really. Summer storms, the colours in the sky, the ocean, fog, golden light, painting in the moonlight. Experimenting with different media and subtle colour relationships. Finding spectacular vernacular photographs, scanning old film. Taking a walk, looking up at the clouds, looking down into salt water or sand. A great line of poetry or book or song. Smelling fresh rosemary in my garden. The wetlands, sleeping outside under the stars, blues, folk, and gospel music. Central America, China, and South Texas, the people, their history, music, and food. Watching my kids learn, collecting things in the garden and searching for answers with them. Picnics in the grass, beautiful stoneware ceramics, vintage glassware, campfires in the woods or my backyard.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Forgiveness is key. Just be more forgiving of your own mistakes, and of everyone else's. Mistakes teach you things. We are all learning and evolving at our own pace, and fear, resentment and regret just eat away at you. Life is too short to not be working on the next beautiful lesson or art project.
What do you do to promote your work?
I am really lucky to have a great, brick and mortar gallery with my family on Galveston Island, Texas. René Wiley Gallery. And I may spend too much time posting on social media, but it really does help.
Tell us about a project you are most proud of.
I have had a solo exhibition of paintings every year since 2013, with about 30 new pieces each time. I am really proud of myself for that, especially after 2016, since I have had my children home with me while making the pieces. But truly, my kids are what I am most proud of - my longest-term projects to date!
I find that, once I am done with an artwork, I'm on to the next thing, so it just doesn't compare to what parenting is like as a project. I approach my motherhood as an artist. I think my best artworks are also like my children, I use my knowledge to the best of my abilities to mould them to turn out strong and connected to something bigger than myself. And there is this divine mystery that happens in both making a great piece of art and raising kids, somehow they come through you and exist independently from you without you even knowing exactly how.
You find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?
I think I would want to live very much the same as I do now. Except I'd buy a nice boat for my boys and me to fish on, there are no better views for my work here on the coast, and it would be a floating classroom for us. I'd definitely travel more with my children and husband too, so we could teach our kids more about the world's incredible diversity. Then I'd have to find ways to give grants to artists wherever we travelled to.
But, most importantly, I'd invest most of it to help people and rescue dogs. I would love to open two separate nonprofits, in Houston and San Antonio. They would be a dog rescue and sanctuary at both places, but one location would be a haven for mothers and children escaping violence, and the other would be a rehab facility for people suffering from alcohol or drug addiction. Both places would be focused on finding peace and strength for people healing through the care of the many dogs in need.
How do you switch off?
I'd say I'm more in need of recharge than a complete switching off. So pulling weeds in my garden, a walk, a cup of tea, reading poetry, beach-combing. A little road trip with thrift stores if I'm lucky. As a parent, I don't get to do that as much; instead, I snuggle up with my kids and dogs in our tent in the backyard, and we have a campfire together. I'd love to do that more with just my husband too. But at the end of the day, I guess it's a glass of red wine, or maybe a bourbon or tequila with herbs from my garden. I'd enjoy it while listening to my favourites like Lightnin' Hopkins, First Aid Kit or Iron and Wine in my studio.
What's the book that every creator should read?
There are just too many to say one, but these stick out in my mind: The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz, Residence on Earth by Pablo Neruda, The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia. They have each changed my life in some way, they each reinforced to me how important it is to be an observer and be passionately creative.
How should people connect with you?
My website, https://www.rachelwiley.com,
My instagrams, https://www.instagram.com/saltandsky.studio/ and
https://www.instagram.com/RWileyJanotaFineArt/
Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/wileyrachel,
or my gallery portfolio: http://renewileygallery.com/collections/42107.
https://www.upcomingartists.org/allinterviews/rachel-wiley-janota
"Rachel Wiley-Janota is a Galveston Island-based Visual Artist. She took time out of her packed diary to talk to Upcoming Artists about her work and the beautiful synergy between parenthood and creating art."
Rachel Wiley-Janota, Visual Artist
What is your weapon of choice?
I'm mostly a painter and photographer, so I always need a camera, my iPhone or 35mm film or polaroids, and at least one notebook with graphite pencils to get started. If I'm not outside working, I use photographs, prints and small studies in the studio. I work with watercolours, inks, acrylics, oils, beeswax, encaustic and gold leaf. I have watercolour papers, hardwood boards, and canvases to paint on and use lots of painting and putty knives, paper towels and wash brushes, spray bottles with water or alcohol, and maybe a hot plate, sandpaper and a blow torch. And if I am in the studio, I love to look through my collection of found photography and books for materials and inspiration.
How did you get started as a creator?
I was raised by a painter, but I wanted to be a biologist since I was young. I really believe we are all born creators, but I reconnected with painting in my early adulthood when I took a brilliant drawing class from Mark Greenwalt, who has both fine art and biology backgrounds.
My mom, grandmother and sister all painted with traditional oils, which I didn't connect with, but learning mixed media really got me excited to work again. Art-making then became everything to me, like a language I needed to speak with others. For me, it was like hearing blues music or reading beat and zen poetry for the first time, once I discovered it, I realized just how much I needed it in my life every day.
What gets you most excited about your work?
I’m always getting excited and inspired by something to work on, but I try to focus on the gulf coast landscape and my found photography. When people connect with what I make, it means a lot to me. I realize how lucky I am to be a full time, working artist with a studio in my home, and I am immensely grateful for it.
Where do you get inspiration from?
Everything, really. Summer storms, the colours in the sky, the ocean, fog, golden light, painting in the moonlight. Experimenting with different media and subtle colour relationships. Finding spectacular vernacular photographs, scanning old film. Taking a walk, looking up at the clouds, looking down into salt water or sand. A great line of poetry or book or song. Smelling fresh rosemary in my garden. The wetlands, sleeping outside under the stars, blues, folk, and gospel music. Central America, China, and South Texas, the people, their history, music, and food. Watching my kids learn, collecting things in the garden and searching for answers with them. Picnics in the grass, beautiful stoneware ceramics, vintage glassware, campfires in the woods or my backyard.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Forgiveness is key. Just be more forgiving of your own mistakes, and of everyone else's. Mistakes teach you things. We are all learning and evolving at our own pace, and fear, resentment and regret just eat away at you. Life is too short to not be working on the next beautiful lesson or art project.
What do you do to promote your work?
I am really lucky to have a great, brick and mortar gallery with my family on Galveston Island, Texas. René Wiley Gallery. And I may spend too much time posting on social media, but it really does help.
Tell us about a project you are most proud of.
I have had a solo exhibition of paintings every year since 2013, with about 30 new pieces each time. I am really proud of myself for that, especially after 2016, since I have had my children home with me while making the pieces. But truly, my kids are what I am most proud of - my longest-term projects to date!
I find that, once I am done with an artwork, I'm on to the next thing, so it just doesn't compare to what parenting is like as a project. I approach my motherhood as an artist. I think my best artworks are also like my children, I use my knowledge to the best of my abilities to mould them to turn out strong and connected to something bigger than myself. And there is this divine mystery that happens in both making a great piece of art and raising kids, somehow they come through you and exist independently from you without you even knowing exactly how.
You find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?
I think I would want to live very much the same as I do now. Except I'd buy a nice boat for my boys and me to fish on, there are no better views for my work here on the coast, and it would be a floating classroom for us. I'd definitely travel more with my children and husband too, so we could teach our kids more about the world's incredible diversity. Then I'd have to find ways to give grants to artists wherever we travelled to.
But, most importantly, I'd invest most of it to help people and rescue dogs. I would love to open two separate nonprofits, in Houston and San Antonio. They would be a dog rescue and sanctuary at both places, but one location would be a haven for mothers and children escaping violence, and the other would be a rehab facility for people suffering from alcohol or drug addiction. Both places would be focused on finding peace and strength for people healing through the care of the many dogs in need.
How do you switch off?
I'd say I'm more in need of recharge than a complete switching off. So pulling weeds in my garden, a walk, a cup of tea, reading poetry, beach-combing. A little road trip with thrift stores if I'm lucky. As a parent, I don't get to do that as much; instead, I snuggle up with my kids and dogs in our tent in the backyard, and we have a campfire together. I'd love to do that more with just my husband too. But at the end of the day, I guess it's a glass of red wine, or maybe a bourbon or tequila with herbs from my garden. I'd enjoy it while listening to my favourites like Lightnin' Hopkins, First Aid Kit or Iron and Wine in my studio.
What's the book that every creator should read?
There are just too many to say one, but these stick out in my mind: The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz, Residence on Earth by Pablo Neruda, The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia. They have each changed my life in some way, they each reinforced to me how important it is to be an observer and be passionately creative.
How should people connect with you?
My website, https://www.rachelwiley.com,
My instagrams, https://www.instagram.com/saltandsky.studio/ and
https://www.instagram.com/RWileyJanotaFineArt/
Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/wileyrachel,
or my gallery portfolio: http://renewileygallery.com/collections/42107.