When Jan was in kindergarten, she remembers drawing and coloring nursery rhymes. Her kindergarten teacher went around the room to see how the children were doing and told them to put clothes on "Little Boy Blue." That was a light bulb moment for Jan, as she started drawing clothes over the "stick figured” boy, Blue. She realized then that she was destined to be an artist. The only other thing she really remembers about kindergarten was having to go to the beauty shop to have her hair curled and set for picture day. Poofy hair was not cool for a girl who also hated wearing dresses.

Many years later, after realizing dresses were OK, Jan graduated from college with a degree in art, and went on to her first artist job at Hallmark Cards. She had many mentors there, whom she learned and absorbed much from. Jan also had travel opportunities including Italy and Asia. She later decided that she wanted to explore the freelance world. Jan discovered she really enjoyed working with different design and publishing companies from all over, not to mention the luxury of working at home being a mother of two children.

She and her family live in a happy yellow house by a lake and a golf course just outside of Kansas City, Missouri. In their spare time, they enjoy the outdoors: by the pool, at the lake, going on bike rides, taking walks, or playing a little golf. She also enjoys doing all kinds of arts and crafts, especially with her kids, Amy and Bryan, and sometimes even her husband, Roger. Jan loves children's art, folk art, and outsider art; also textiles, including African American quilts. She loves to make and wear jewelry. But what she consistently does best in is making a mess. She just figures she is so lucky to be an artist, because she can always blame her messiness on the need for being creative.

Holidays, Festivals, & Celebrations - Christmas (The Child's World)

Pumpkin Fever (Children's Press)

What Makes You Happy? (Child's World)

J is for Jesus (Augsburg Books)

Mardi Gras (Child's World)

A is for Angel (Augsburg Books)

I'll Make You a Card (Compass Point Books)