March 2025 – Janice Pluma

FAA’s guest artist in March will be contemporary artist Janice Pluma. With a lifelong passion for art, Janice has pursued fine art studies at colleges across California, Colorado, and North Dakota. She ultimately earned her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Art and Design from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo.

Demonstration: Exploring approaches to texture and collage from traditional to experimental:

• Overview of composition principles for abstract design;
• Using alternative painting tools to create texture and special effects;
• Experimental manipulation of reclaimed materials + melting of synthetics to create unique collage materials;
• Brief discussion of various collage adhesives and other joining methods in order to integrate unexpected materials into an artwork.

Jancie worked as a graphics designer for various newspapers and magazines in the SLO area; followed by establishing a freelance business, Warpaint Graphics, specializing in print media.

In 2013, she and two other Paso Robles artists established a collaborative studio, Atelier 708, which they successfully operated for the next 11 years. For a variety of reasons, the artists last year decided to close the gallery and move on — which brought Janice to Folsom, where she now lives and works from her home studio.

Janice is a member and past president of Paso Robles Art Association, a member of Rancho Cordova Arts, and in January this year she joined Folsom Arts Association.

On her website, janicepluma.com, one can find the many shows, galleries, awards, and other accolades Janice has garnered over the years; and you can see how her art is guided by her philosophy — which she describes [in part] as: ”It is the spirit of inclusiveness that will strengthen society and bring us together. It is with acceptance and kindness that we will survive as a species.”