by Jennifer Kern

Jan Day hails from New Jersey just outside of NYC. She has spent most of her adult life in Seneca Falls working as the librarian for a small library in Waterloo, NY and on the board of the Seneca Fall Library. There she and her husband Michael raised their two daughters. During this time Jan and her family discovered Vermont. For thirty years Roaring Branch Camps in East Arlington became their annual vacation destination. When retirement rolled around Jan and Michael thought about moving to Montana or California where their grown daughters lived but Vermont in all its beauty and the abundance of cultural activities was calling to them. They moved to Shaftsbury and have lived there for 10 years enjoying their travels around the countryside.

Jan has always preferred living in the countryside. As a child she spent as much time as she could at her Grandparent’s farm. She loved roaming the woods and fields and exploring the barns. Up the road there was a pony riding place. She soon took up riding and drawing horses. She drew horses constantly and found herself really enjoying it. At thirteen she was introduced to oil paints and uses them exclusively to this day. In her Senior High art major class Jan made the decision to not pursue art as a career. She preferred to enjoy painting for pleasure.

When she and Michael moved to Vermont 10 years ago, Jan picked up painting in earnest again. As you might guess, her painting scene of choice is landscapes. Wide open scenes as well as studies of a barn or trees.  Jan has not decided whether she wants to show her paintings in public, but I’m sure if you ask her she would share some photos of her paintings. The paintings I saw were simply beautiful.

Jan has been a member of our branch for 7 years. Earlier she was the co chair of Northshire/First Mondays group. She has graciously taken on the board position of treasure. Thank you Jan.