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Can you imagine going through the hot, steamy month of August without a glass of clean fresh water?

1.1 billion people, 20% of the world's population, lack access to safe clean water. This is one reason that I am giving 10% of all Jan Marvin Art Sales (through the month of August) to a wonderful local organization that provides clean water to those who don't have access to it… Water Missions International.

- Every day 25,000 people die from having an inadequate or contaminated water supply.
- Every 15 seconds, a child under age 5 dies from a water-related illness.
- Women and girls in developing countries walk an average of four miles per day carrying five gallons of water.
- For more information, go to www.watermissions.org

My art exhibit at Honeycomb Cafe on Daniel Island (SC) has been extended through August and I've added new art! It is more vibrant and colorful than ever. Brighten your day with art and help to give to a great cause. Check it out! Or you may go to my website to purchase prints in various sizes.

Have a wonderful summer!

Jan Marvin
janmarvin.com
marvin.jan@gmail.com
706-818-2741

Happy Independence Day!

President Ronald Reagan said, "America is freedom – freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise. Freedom is special and rare."

This is the greatest country on earth – and I am proud and grateful to God, every day, to be a citizen of the United States of America.

Today, as we celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, cookouts, and traditional American cultural activities, I also hope you will…

Proudly fly the American flag…
Say the Pledge of Allegiance…
Remember to honor those who sacrificed everything for our freedom…
And pray to our gracious God for the restoration of our nation!

I am blessed personally to have my art on display at the Honeycomb Cafe on Daniel Island throughout the month of July!
Jennifer Johnston of The Daniel Island News wrote a wonderful article about me and my art this week. The article is shown below.

Have a wonderful and blessed Independence Day!

Jan Marvin
janmarvin.com
marvin.jan@gmail.com
706-818-2741

Blissful brushstrokes amid design deadlines: Jan Marvin is July’s Honeycomb artist
By Jennifer Johnston
Jul 3, 2014 - 4:18:40 PM

"Dancing Tulips," an acrylic painting by Jan Marvin, is one of the pieces of art that is on display at Honeycomb Cafe through the month of July.
You know Jan, right? Well, you’re familiar with her work, that much is certain. I know this, because you are holding it in your hot little hands.
Jan Marvin is not only the literal “first face,” of The Daniel Island News – the smile with which you are greeted as you enter our office facing River Landing Drive – but she is also the figurative “first face” of every issue. Each time you are captivated by a cool front page photo paired with a clever cover graphic, we have Jan to thank for drawing you in. It was a jackpot moment the day she joined the newspaper team.
But as we get to know her better, we find that her talent runs even deeper. She is sharp as a tack with text and cool as a cucumber under deadline pressure, to be sure. But what is becoming more conspicuous every day is her amazing artistic talent. It turns out her eye for digital design is rooted in her natural knack with other forms of visual art – from painting to photography.

Jan Marvin grew up in Joliet, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. She married her childhood sweetheart, Rick, and the two found themselves somewhere along the southeastern coast nearly every time an opportunity for vacation arose. When Rick was offered a job in Madison, Georgia, the winter-worn couple jumped at the chance to move south. They were happy inland Georgians for nine years, but still felt a palpable draw to the ocean.

In 2007, the Marvins chose Mount Pleasant as their new home, won over by the climate, the culture and history and, of course, the beaches. The Marvins’ two adult children, Lena and Nathan, also relocated to the Charleston area, making it feel that much more like home. Shortly after the move, Jan joined The Daniel Island News as the graphic design guru, but is today more formally known as the Creative Art Director/Website Content Editor/Classified Ad Director.

Jan has recently re-dedicated herself to painting and photography, and participated in the exceptionally well-received first annual Daniel Island Art Show earlier this year. For the entire month of July, her work will be on display at the Honeycomb Café in Daniel Island, and we picked her brain a bit as she was preparing for the show.

Just when you think you know Jan, you find yourself stunned by the vibrant, endearing paintings and crisp, conveying photographs she produces away from her DI News desk. Don’t feel bad; we sit right next to her, and she surprised us, too.

Jennifer Johnston: Can you please map out for us your artful history and early stops your career path?
Jan Marvin: I have degrees in Interior Design and Architectural Technology. I worked in Chicago as a draftsperson for Montgomery Ward corporate offices and designed floor plans and retail store signs. I became an A.S.I.D. Interior Designer and did commercial design for banks, offices, a hospital, a nursing home, a dormitory, and residential interiors. After doing that for 18 years, I bought graphic design software and taught myself the basic programs. Before long, I was doing graphic design projects for friends and worked part-time at an advertising agency. My children were still in school, so I decided to run my own graphic design business and work out of my home. It was the perfect solution at the time because I was able to attend school events and to be more hands-on as a parent.

JJ: How did you get into publishing, and when did you join The Daniel Island News?
JM: After moving to Georgia, I ran my own business, but later worked for two newspaper publishers. I helped launch The Oconee News in Watkinsville, Georgia with Rob Peecher, the publisher. I’ve been working at the Daniel Island News since 2008 and enjoy the creative freedom that the publisher, Suzanne Detar, allows me to have. I’ve also been a video producer and worked as a Production Tech at WCBD-TV2.

JJ: What is your earliest memory of picking up a paintbrush? Of looking through a lens?
JM: I loved art class in high school and my art teacher was very encouraging. I recently found my first acrylic painting of a young girl sitting in a field of flowers. I used bright paint colors even way back then. My dad and I were the photographers of our family. I started taking fine-art photographs while we were living in Georgia and continued when we moved here. I had painted off and on throughout the years, but the busy-ness of life had taken me away from painting for seven years. I finally picked up a paintbrush in February of this year and I have found that some of my most joyful and peaceful moments occur while I am painting.

JJ: If you believe art reflects the personality of the artist, do you also believe the work evolves in tandem with changes in the artist (life experiences, maturity, etc.)? If so, how has this notion applied to you?
JM: My art has coincided with my life in a big way, mostly through my faith in God, which is why my byline is “The Art of Joy.” As I seek God and as my relationship with Him grows, the more joyful and peaceful I become. It has everything to do with getting through the stressful situations of life, having faith in God, being grateful and finding joy in small, ordinary everyday things. My art is somewhat whimsical and child-like. The swirling lines seem to dance on the canvas. It reminds me of the way the stars swirl around in the night sky in Vincent Van Gogh’s painting, The Starry Night.

JJ: You do not shy away from bright colors in your palette; why is this one of your signature artistic elements?
JM: I usually put a dark color next to the bright color to make the light color pop out of the canvas. At this stage in my life, my goal is to leave the darkness behind and bring light into my life... to chase the clouds away. One of my favorite bible verses is “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5.

JJ: What comes more naturally to you, painting or photography? Do you enjoy one medium over the other?
JM: While I enjoy photography, I am led to paint as often as I can. The cares of the world seem to melt away as I put on some music - Washed Out, ATB, The Alan Parsons Project, or Ambient Generation - and start painting.

JJ: You participated in the first annual Daniel Island Art Show. Was it as you expected? Will you show more frequently now?
JM: The Daniel Island Art Show was a great success. There is so much creative talent in this area. It was a pleasure to meet the other artists and clients. Hopefully, there will be many more shows to come in the future. I will be showing my work in August (we haven't set a date yet) at a trunk show along with Melissa Gray, a local jewelry designer. That's all I have planned for now. I need to paint more pieces so I can spread out my work in various locations!

JJ: Permission to brag a bit: please tell us about some of your more significant professional accolades.
JM: I was very excited when I became an A.S.I.D. Interior Designer. It was a challenge to pass the tests and it opened many doors for me. I’ve also won numerous awards as a graphic designer. But now, I am happy when my art helps to make the day a little brighter for others.

JJ: Where is your studio? Can you dish a little about your workspace, including other senses you involve with sounds, scents, other visuals and lighting?
JM: When we moved to Mount Pleasant, we down-sized, so I don’t have a studio per se. I guess you could say that my studio is mobile. I keep my supplies in our utility room and when I’m ready to paint, I spread a sheet out on the floor in my living room and place my easel where the lighting is the best depending on the time of day. I also paint in our screened-in porch where I can hear the birds sing, watch the squirrels, and feel the soft breeze. Sometimes I continue painting as daylight turns to night, so I find myself painting along with the sounds of frogs and crickets.

JJ: How can folks purchase your art? Could people commission special-request pieces and/or photography sessions?
JM: Canvas, framed, acrylic and metal prints, greeting cards, and cell phone covers may be purchased at janmarvin.com. Originals may be purchased at art exhibits or I can be contacted at marvin.jan@gmail.com or 706-818-2741. Although I have photographed models, fashion shows, and films in the past, I am presently focusing my photography on nature and landscapes.

Find Joy in the Ordinary

We sometimes get so busy running errands and making sure that our to-do lists are checked off that we miss the most simple and enjoyable things that are right in front of our eyes. We fail to notice some of the most beautiful sights and sounds because we aren't really looking and listening. These small, insignificant things can actually bring joy into our lives.

We need to clear our minds of daily clutter and appreciate the precious moments that God has provided for us while we are still here on this earth.

For example, here is a scenario of something that is insignificant and ordinary that brings joy into my life: I am walking outdoors on a quiet, warm and sunny day. I see the clear blue sky with a few white cumulous clouds floating above. I feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. I hear the hum of an airplane flying overhead. This scenario reminds me of a time when I was a child running and playing in an open field. It brings back feelings of being free and happy and most of all…joyful. This simple memory brings a smile to my face.

Would you like to find joy in the ordinary? Here is a suggestion: Turn off the TV and stereo (or ipod) and then S-L-O-W-L-Y read and act upon the following:

- Very slowly look around you. What colors do you see? Bright colors, dull colors, soft textures, rough textures, the pattern in a woven basket, shiny, clear surfaces, etc. Isn't it amazing that we can see such a variety of amazing and beautiful colors and surfaces?
- What sounds do you hear? The hum of an air conditioner, someone talking in the background, a lonely train in the distance, a bird singing, a dog barking, a lawn mower, the sound of your breathing, etc. Isn't it amazing that we can hear so many varieties of sounds?
- What do you feel? The soft breeze from a fan passing by your face? The soft petal of a flower touching your skin? Your faithful heart beating in your chest?
- What do you taste? That chocolate you ate a few minutes ago? The aftertaste of coffee? Isn't it amazing how our taste buds can pick up sweetness, bitterness, saltiness, sourness and such a variety of flavors?

How can ordinary and insignificant things bring moments of joy into your life today?

Blessings,
Jan Marvin

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul...Psalm 23:2

10% OFF ALL OF JAN MARVIN'S ART FOR ONE WEEK ONLY! Use Code CUYZUE to receive discount upon checkout.

The Gift of Flowers “The earth laughs in flowers.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bring joy to someone special in your life. Purchase a flower painting for your loved one to brighten their life for many years to come.

Original flower paintings and all online purchases are 10% off until May 11, 2014. Use CODE # YBVCUZ to receive the discount.

Come and join the fun and view my flower paintings this Saturday at Pickled Palate in Mount Pleasant, SC from 1-4. The Old Village Block Party starts at 2:00 on Hibben Street.

Have a wonderful and blessed day,
Jan

View and purchase Jan Marvin's art...available as original paintings or prints


Note: Online sales are not guaranteed to be delivered by Mother's Day, May 11, 2014.

Would you describe yourself as a joyful person? Why or why not? What does the word "joy" mean to you? What brings you joy? Is it an attitude that we choose to have or does it just come naturally?

The definition of joy in Merriam-Webster is: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: delight

As I ponder the word "joy", my paintings have become more of a pleasure to create and have become whimsical, colorful and fun. As a result, my life and relationships have become more joyful.

How can you bring more joy into your life today?

Have a wonderful and blessed day,
Jan

P.S. ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS LEFT of the Daniel Island Art Show where three of my original paintings are displayed. Show ends Saturday, April 19 at 6 pm. The show is at at 186-D Seven Farms Drive on Daniel Island. For more information, call the Daniel Island Property Owners Association at 843-971-9200.


View and purchase Jan Marvin's art...available as original paintings or prints