Short Bio
As an artist, I am enthusiastic about bringing something from non-existing into existing form through creating something!
Statement
My name is Jane Prudência Burch, but my artistic name is Jane Prudência or simply JPrudência. Those changes are pertinent because over the past 3 decades marriage led me to signed artworks from my maiden’s last name dos Santos, Riley, and now Burch.
As an artist in search of my own style, my struggles lie on those middle grounds of stating but not really diving into realism. Such impasse makes me really appreciate the works of some impressionists and their ability of not completely defining or objectively depicting a subject, using texture of brushstrokes, color, and light to present an idea that’s more than what meets the eye.
My dream since I graduated from College with a BA degree in Studio Arts from the University of Minnesota was to become a full-time artist. However, I couldn’t be consistent in the pursuit of an artistic career, mostly as Potter, because life led me to follow a different path. Therefore, due to life circumstances I decide to abandon Pottery and pursue a Master of Science in Psychology. Nevertheless, I continued to do paintings and drawing when I could.
In 2016, I have chosen to take a new approach by ignoring all the academic instructions and concepts about creating art that I had previously been taught; because, I had a sense of complete dissatisfaction as if I felt less artistically inclined… for me, the end results were predictable and very well expected of a person who received some art education. My work lacked substantial psycho/emotional striking characteristics depicted in my early start as an artist; then, I felt attracted by art beyond the realm of conventional art education such as self-taught artist’s telling a historical narrative from a sense of original simplicity in the representation of their cultural perspectives about the human existence, that was easily understood and strongly heartfelt.
So, I allowed my ‘Self’ to submerge deeply into my subconscious and bring out to the surface all memories I had previously suppressed for many years; because, forgetting and repressing seemed the best adult thing to do! As an outcome, some of my artworks from the Childhood Memories series, represent my good and bad memories of how the people who surrounded me during childhood shaped my memories and profoundly had a mark on who I am today... I view these body of works such as drawings, paintings, and illustrations as a representation of my inner child's unique perspective. It is honest and candid, showing emotion in its most genuine form. The appeal of folk-art created from the heart and marked by an existential narrative makes these creations priceless, in my opinion.
Combining My Love for Painting and Pottery, I have also created another series entitled, “Women in the State of Being,” dealing with women’s issues such as depression, body image, and emotional state that affects all of us. Over the past years, even before Selfies, I liked to place the camera on a self-timer and take pictures of myself and I have used to make painting and drawings of self-portraits depicting my aging process. Recently, I became a grandmother, and I am working on a series called Mothers and their Children.
The small animal pieces are part of a series entitled, “My Florida Tenants.” In the beginning of my move to Ocala, I confess I was a bit annoyed to see so many frogs, lizards, and snails because depending on the time of the year these little creatures are everywhere… in my bathroom, garden, and porch. And a month ago, we had two small bear cubs visiting too… Now, all of them are very much a part of my backyard’s landscape, and we coexist pacifically!
As an artist, I believe my best works are yet to come…
Biography
Name Changes
Mrs. Jane Prudência Burch has adopted her new artistic name as Jane Prudência or simple JPrudência. Those changes are pertinent; because, over the past 3 decades marriage led her to sign artworks from her maiden’s name dos Santos, Riley, and now Burch.
She has a BA degree in Studio Arts from the University of Minnesota. She wanted to become a full-time artist, however, she couldn’t be consistent in the pursuit of an artistic career; mostly as Potter, because life led her to follow a different path. Therefore, due to life circumstances she decided to abandon Pottery and pursue a Master of Science in Psychology.
Her Own Identity
After moving to Florida, she was interested in understanding the aspects of how cultural perspectives, life experiences, emotional state intertwine and mark the process and outcome of what we express as art form; For example, the Baroque style and her Luso/ Afro-Brazilian ancestry made her question the force and positiveness of having mainly a Western education – versus -her “ignorance” about the energy and the cultural roots of Afro-Brazilian expression. Further, she was asking herself if she had lost a sense of her own identity as a unique individual… So, she thought that, the characteristics displayed in Art Americana by folk artists should be part also of her DNA; therefore, she should just let the Baroque style and her Luso/Afro-Brazilian ancestry flow and transcribe it the most coherent ways as possible!
As she has stated, “my works lacked a substantial psycho/emotional striking characteristics depicted in my early start as an artist, before any art education; hence, just as the folk artists, I want to develop and create a narrative from a sense of original simplicity in the representation of my cultural perspective, telling a story that represents my understanding of myself, people, and the world “. . As an outcome of this period of self-inquiries and soul searching, some of her artworks from the Childhood Memories series, represent her good and bad memories of how the people who surrounded her during childhood shaped her memories and profoundly had a mark on who she is today... she views these body of works such as drawings, paintings, and illustrations as a representation of her inner child's unique perspective. It is honest and candid, showing emotion in its most genuine form. The appeal of folk-art created from the heart and marked by an existential narrative makes these creations priceless, in her opinion.
Combining My Love for Painting and Pottery
Since 2022, she has stablished a newly created ceramics and painting studios in Ocklawaha, Florida. And she has also created another series entitled, “Women in a State of Being,” her narrative derives from a deep understanding of herself and of women’s issues such as depression, body image, and emotional state, motherhood, work, sexuality, and what affects all of us. Recently, she became a grandmother, and she started to work on am working on a series called Mothers and their Children.
Resume / CV
Bachelor of Arts - University of Minnesota - Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN (1995- 1999)
Master of Science in Psychology- University of Phoenix – Phoenix, Arizona (2009 – 2011)
