Local artist, Jana Swec, tunes into her emotional landscape as she continuously creates with fervor.

Words by Libby Allen Photos by Eric Morales

Art shows are a thing once more! So don your funkiest shoes, grab a glass of chardonnay and a few friends, and go see Austin-based artist Jana Swec’s work on display this fall.

Jana Swec’s home studio is representative of how art fits into her whole life: effortless, a tad messy, and extremely genuine. After moving to Austin in 2001, Jana did what many young artists do. While working multiple jobs, she tried to plug her art wherever she could.

The Austin art scene has evolved tremendously since 2001, as have art trends in general. One of the most significant developments is how art is viewed and sold. “Instagram has totally changed how I show and sell my work,” Jana says. “I’ve already sold half of my upcoming show because of Instagram, and all of my work is still here in my studio.”

Jana eventually became one of the key people involved in the founding of Big Medium: a nonprofit who hosts East Austin Studio Tour and who’s “dedicated to supporting artists and building community through the arts.”

Nowadays, Jana focuses on paintings and large-scale murals, which she paints across the city with her brother. “The art that I do now is really based on emotion. Especially these last six months, I’ll start a piece, and it will begin with an emotion,” Jana explains. “I won’t know what’s going to happen as I create it. It’s more personal.” This is a big contrast to the making of her murals, which are mostly commissioned-based and much more planned out. 

Though the Austin art scene has changed tremendously, one way Jana has not changed at all is that she likes to stay busy. A typical day might be bouncing around from one commissioned project to another personal one and doing everything from painting the Waterloo Park Amphitheater mural downtown to working with a Boys and Girls Club in San Antonio. 

“I really enjoy juggling a lot of different things. I think that’s why I have a really hard time sitting behind a desk on a computer,” she admits. 

Though the pandemic affected everyone in so many ways, one positive for Jana was her effusive artistic production. “The pandemic has made me need to emote. I’ve been really prolific lately. I literally need to stop painting; I have too much work!” Jana chuckles. 

Experience the Art  
All of Jana’s work can be viewed at her upcoming show as part of the ICOSA collective on September 24, along with fellow ICOSA artist Matt Rebholz. 

Contact:
(512) 468-2104
littleredswec@gmail.com
littleswecart.com
@janaswec