First of all, it is hard for me to think of myself as an artist. I love to draw and paint but have never had the talent to ‘just’ sit down and draw like real artists but I do wish I could. For most things, I have to have a picture to look at while I draw. When I was in grade school my mother let me take an art class one summer that was two weeks long. I learned a little about shading and also how to draw a bucket! That is what I remember about that class. Not too impressive, huh! I did continue to attempt drawing and it came to some use when I was a high school teacher and cheerleader coach. We were always making signs. Then in March of 1987 I started working for Southwest Airlines. I wanted to draw their little cartoon plane, TJ Luv.

I got permission to do that and eventually, my business was born. I drew the planes for various seasons and occasions then made cards, note pad, labels and bookmarks with them. Later there were mugs and CD clocks with TJ on them. I never thought I could draw people and had not tried very much. I did design a logo for a beautician once using a partial face in black and white with the only color being red lips. That was the extent of my experience with drawing faces until this past year. (Except for Santa, I used to draw Santa for my son when he was little) I have loved drawing the scenes from the 1995 Miniseries of Pride and Prejudice and plan on drawing many more. What I am trying to capture in each of my drawings is the feeling and emotion of a particular scene. I want those feelings and emotions to be evident to and experienced by anyone that sees one of my pictures.< My goal for now is to get twelve done so that I can have a 2013 calendar in celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice next year.

Oh!  I cannot wait to see the calendar!  Seeing images from Pride and Prejudice every day is a wonderful way to celebrate and remember the 200th anniversary of that beloved novel!  Where and when did you first discover Jane Austen? Do you have a favorite Jane Austen novel? hero? heroine? quote?

My first reading of Pride and Prejudice was in high school. I remember liking it okay but was not obsessed with it like I am now! It seems I cannot get enough of Darcy and Lizzy. I read voraciously and love all the variations, sequels and some paranormal settings. I have enjoyed the other Jane Austen variations too but as we all know, there are not as many of them. It seems that many of us are enamored with Pride and Prejudice. I guess that answers the next question of my favorite Jane Austen novel. Persuasion would come in second. Darcy and Lizzy are my favorite hero and heroine. I love their story and path to true love. Their growth as individuals, learning things about themselves and their willingness to change for the better are characteristics worthy of achievement for any of us. That’s part of what makes them so fascinating. My favorite quote is the beginning of the disastrous proposal at Hunsford. “In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” To think of someone saying that to me, with feeling, (and without the rest of the quote) makes me melt. Next would be the scene with Caroline Bingley at Lucas Lodge. First, when he counters her comment with, “I should imagine not.” After she proceeds to tell him what he is thinking, his next response is perfect. “Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.” I love Caroline being put in her place and being ‘all astonishment’   I plan to do a drawing of this scene next year.

Excellent choices!  I love that Mr. Darcy speaks his true feelings in that conversation, kind of gives readers a small glimpse of what he really feels since he is so very reserved and aloof.  I look forward to seeing your recreation of this scene!  What inspired you to combine your skill in art with Jane Austen?  

I was asked to try drawing Darcy and Lizzy outdoors for a possible book cover. I had never done anything like that and wasn’t too sure about it, but decided to give it a try. I took pictures of paused scenes from the miniseries and that is how it all began. I drew Darcy first, then Lizzy. Using a background scene and my editing software, I changed the landscape to a computerized drawing. With layers, I put Lizzy and Darcy in that background. The book editor thought my drawings looked too much like Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, although I had tried NOT to make them look like them. I never considered that to even be a possibility but none the less, my drawing could not be used. ‘A Walk in the Woods’ is the drawing that I had hoped to be used for a book cover.

 You must have a lot of patience, Janet!  But the end result makes it all worth it!  I dearly hope you don’t loose your inspiration!  Your work is so beautiful!  Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve made so far?  

I think my favorite so far is ‘The Compassionate Observer’.  I have always loved Darcy’s hand to the mouth in the scenes from the miniseries. I think that says so much about his feelings at the moment. I wanted to do at least one of those. I also like ‘A Surprise Encounter’ and will do the corresponding Lizzy for that one someday. Then ‘The Kiss’ has to be mentioned. I have watched that scene so many times that it made a drawing absolutely necessary. Since there were not as many facial features to draw, it was probably the easiest one that I have done.

I just love how you captured Darcy’s eyes in “A Surprise Encounter,” I could stare at them all day!  With the calendar plans and working on your website, you’ve been busy at work on your new business.  What is next for JT Originals?

I am currently working on ‘Prejudice’ which is Lizzy at the Meryton Assembly to go with Darcy’s ‘Pride’. I am iincluding a current picture of my drawing to show you a work in progress. When I look at one at this stage, I often wonder if it will ever turn into something usable. I have only begun to do the face and have the rest sketched. I hope to have it finished and on my website by the time this post goes live. As I mentioned earlier, I hope to do scenes from some of the other books and maybe some from the 2005 movie of Pride and Prejudice. I definitely want to do Darcy as he is watching Lizzy and the Gardiners leave Pemberley. I have always loved that part of the miniseries and it is so blurred. I want to do it focused and with the details. (There is that word again!) PnP mugs, maybe some prints and even mouse pads would be nice additions to my cards and calendars. I want to do a calendar using some of the photos I took in England this summer too. Naturally, it would also be a PnP calendar. Maybe by next year I will have some PnP Christmas cards. I have lots of ideas, don’t I? Now I just need to get them implemented. As a side note, I have been commissioned to draw ‘the’ Santa Claus, Mr. C, as soon as I finish the work that I am doing for my calendar. (Santa knew I had a deadline to meet.) That should be fun, shouldn’t it? I’m pretty excited about it too! I’m just waiting for the picture to arrive!

I love all those ideas.  If you do scenes from other adaptations and novels, I’m going to have no walls left…(and a very skinny wallet).  I plan on framing your lovely 5×7 and hanging them near my bookshelf!  Now here is a fun question, if Jane Austen was on your Christmas shopping list, what would you buy her this year?

Oh my, that is a tough one. I think, first of all, I would give her lots of paper, ink and quills. I would love for her to grace us with many more of her awesome books. Then I would give her a Kindle with all the eBook variations, prequels and sequels that have been born from her books. Don’t you think she would find that absolutely amazing and wonderful, especially with a 200^th anniversary coming up next year!?! A book by Hazel Jones talks of the phenomenon that is Pride and Prejudice. I would have to give it to dear Jane. Don’t you just love that picture on the cover? (She does have permission to use it and I was lucky enough that she sent me, via email, a copy of that picture before the book was published! It is yummy!)

I’m sure dear Jane would love all your thoughtful gifts!  I’d love to hear what she thought of Austenesque fiction!  What about these characters, what if they were on your shopping list? What would be your Christmas gifts to them? 

Anne Elliot

Henry Tilney

Mr. Woodhouse

Marianne Dashwood

• Anne Elliot could surely use an umbrella and some good walking shoes for all her ventures in Bath. Those would be truly useful things. I am sure that a pretty lacey handkerchief would be beneficial as well. Adding to these would have to be some books, maybe something by Regina Jeffers and Jane Odiwe. It would be nice for her to see herself in print from authors of today. I would have to include a ship in a bottle for her to give the dashing Captain Wentworth.

• A big, warm microfiber blanket would be ideal for Mr. Woodhouse, don’t you think? Then he would need a cozy sweater and some fur-lined slippers. That should care for his comfort. Now about his stomach? Well, I think some warm breads and puddings should do nicely, with a hot cup of tea, of course.

• Lots of sheet music and a pianoforte would be ideal for Marianne Dashwood. She could probably use some scuba gear since she is forever getting caught in the rain. (Or a big yellow rain coat and galoshes)

LOL!  I think you hit the nail on the head with Mr. Woodhouse in blankets and sweaters and Marianne in proper rain gear!  Thank you so much for taking part in this interview, Janet!  I’m so excited to share this with my readers!

Meredith, this has been much fun. Thank you for having me. I hope everyone will check my website often as I should have my calendar available soon! I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous and Healthy New Year!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!  Today, Janet offers a EXCELLENT opportunity for one lucky winner to own some of her beautiful designs!  The lucky winner will choose a prize of either:

 (1) ten card set of any design

or

(4) 5×7 cards of your choice (each 5×7 can be different)

To be entered in this giveaway,  Janet is asking you to share your opinion.  She wants to know which of her designs would you want to see on a mug?  (share it in the comment section)

(Psst!!!  To see all of Janet’s available designs, go HERE.)

• To save your inbox from unwanted spam, please leave your email address with an [at] instead of @.

• (You could also leave a Twitter handle or Facebook username instead).

• This giveaway is open to residents Worldwide.  Thank you, Janet!

• This giveaway ends December 27th.