Janis Gay Williamson (formerly Knight-Choy)
Biography
Janis Williamson (formerly Janis Knight-Choy) was born in Casper, Wyoming where she grew up riding horses on the range, and living the cowgirl life. Her grandfather, the late A. J. Williamson, a famous saddle maker in Casper, influenced her love of western life of cow ponies, dogs and other creatures that represented her youth and which she depicts in her art today.
In 1961 her family moved to Alaska where her father, A. Jack Williamson is well known in big game circles and where he established a highly successful sporting goods business. Living in Alaska exposed Janis to the Alaskan Last Frontier's diverse wildlife and climate, which continue to be subjects of her art today.
Janis displayed artistic leanings at a young age as her natureal talent for art developed. She has continued her passion for art by becoming proficient at oil painting, lost wax bronze sculpture, stained and fused glass, hand thrown and Raku pottery, hand crafted and painted ceramics and tiles. She graduated from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, with a BA in Psychology, Cum Laude.
Janis often does commissioned art in sculpture and oil painting. Some recent commissions include sculptures and paintings which accurately and expressively capture her patron's pets forever in bronze or oil paint. Janis has been represented by Artique, Ltd., Secrets Gallery, Firefly Art and Arctic Rose Galleries in Anchorage and Wild Holly Gallery in Carefree, Arizona.
Janis has been a contributor to various charity events, including Anchorage Museum of Art, Best Friends Animal Rescue, STAR, AWAIC and many others.
