Meet Janet Eickelman
I grew up in southern Colorado. The last of six to a dietitian and a metallurgical engineer. My mother had been in the Army and she managed us with discipline and blessed freedom. We had the run of the neighborhood and lots of time to imagine. Housekeeping was a natural activity rather than a chore. We all benefited from the assignments, creating our own versions of mom’s patterns. Because of her, the importance of maintaining a nurturing home never left me.
When my older brother hit the garage wall with the family car, my dad simply put up new drywall over the hole. He gave me permission to draw on it and I had found my calling. My senior year of high school I met that teacher that hopefully we all have in our lives, and he suggested art school. My practical parents rolled their eyes, but off I went.
For the sake of being sensible, I majored in interior design with a studio foundation. Drawing, painting, ceramics, and printmaking all wove into a new way to interpret a visual language. I found my interest leaning toward the background of the room, the bones as they say. Color, texture, pattern all provide the story of us, showing our preferences, what makes us at peace.
Currently, my 9-5 consists of wall covering installation, American Clay non-toxic plasters and faux painting. My free time is used to create nomadic walls, hand painted textures or imagery that can be wall covering, wall upholstery, framed or unframed art.
I like to call myself a wall finish artist, all because of a fork in the road.
I moved to the mountains of Colorado upon graduating from college. The ski areas were just getting the foothold they have today and my education was a little raw at that point. After several attempts at jobs that didn’t fit, my friend, who ran a painting business, needed help. I was introduced to the world of construction. It took.
Wallpaper, faux painting, and plaster finishes became my new normal. After thirty five years in the business, I am creating my own wall coverings. Also using non-toxic plasters to create the unique spaces we all deserve.
Much of my childhood was spent outside. Creating rock cities in my dad’s manicured lawn, pretending, looking at the world up close.
It has all led me to the concept of layering, one experience on the surface of another. Color creating a sense of sound, a larger scale producing a background to a room.
The practical side of me saw homes changing hands often. The finishes being removed or painted over. Nomadic walls give a homeowner the option for a custom finish or mural to go with them or to be put away for a season.