JEANIE TOMANEK

Jeanie Tomanek draws upon themes that first developed in her poetry; exploring various feminine archetypes from myths, folk-tales, fairy tales and her own experiences. The natural world as she experienced it growing up on a farm in the Genesee Valley region of New York also strongly influences her work. Trees, flowers, birds and snow are symbols for emotional states or story elements. Dogs sometimes accompany the pale bald “Everywoman” protagonist on her journeys that often take place beneath a starry moonlit sky. Tomanek has been called a mythic artist, telling ancient stories that never grow old.

“I paint to explore. The process of applying paint, color and texture often reveals answers to what is on my mind and hopefully unearths a truth or understanding of a subject or experience via a narrative that includes a female protagonist. I love to show the strength and optimistic attributes of women. Even when they are in a quandary or in danger, I always try to show a glimmer of hope and wisdom—that they will solve the riddle and make it through, stronger and with dignity. Being bald and shorn of any particular identity, they become all women.”

Tomanek is also a published poet and her paintings have appeared as cover art for literary journals and poetry collections. Recently her painting “Thoreau’s Pumpkin” was included in the Hudson River Museum’s “Paintbox Leaves, Autumnal Inspiration from Cole to Wyeth.” Three of her paintings were also included in “Re-enchantment” a project produced for Australian Broadcasting Company that explores the ongoing effect of fairy tales in our daily lives.

“Self-taught artist captures the wisdom of women and their life journeys”
by Candice Dyer

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Tomanek is a self-taught artist, and has always painted for pleasure. It is only in the last decade that she has begun her full-time artist career. Tomanek's work is held in many private and public collections throughout the United States, Europe and Australia.