Janet Armstrong

When Janet Armstrong made the move from professional painter to small business owner — a shift that has left many fine artists in financial ruin — she had no idea it would turn out to be so successful.

Owner of Just Imajan Art Gallery and Studio in downtown Cochrane, Armstrong has made a name for herself with her prolific work over the past two years.
“I really started cold,” Armstrong said, surrounded by her huge, brightly coloured canvases. “I just started with the paint on the walls, and it fell into place.”

Janet Armstrong, left, stands under one of her paintings with childhood friend Wendy Duff during the second anniversary celebration for her downtown gallery last month. Photo by Alan Mattson

After eight years of teaching artists in Calgary, 12 years of professional painting and two years in a small studio in Cochrane — plus raising three children in Rocky View County — she thought the time was right to take the next step and open up a combination gallery and studio.

“It has just been a fabulous two years. The people that have come through, the jobs that have come from it — the doors are opening up. It’s unreal.”

Armstrong’s work stretches a long way from what hangs in her gallery.

She has painted some of the largest public and commercial works in the Calgary area — an almost unbelievable volume — fuelled by her intense energy and passion for painting.

Her biggest work to date, a 90-foot by seven-foot mural in Calgary City Hall, took three months and 450 hours to complete. It included a 41-foot-long Centre Street Bridge, a vista of the Saddledome grounds, and the old and new City Halls side-by-side.
“I lost seven pounds going up and down ladders,” she laughed.

Janet Armstrong, right, stands under some of her paintings as friend and local musician Marty Cochrane performs during the second anniversary celebration for her downtown gallery on May 8. Photo by Alan Mattson

Armstrong draws inspiration from the surrounding foothills architecture, both natural and manmade. A history lover, she loves learning about old buildings, painting from black-and-white photos, and collecting artifacts from days gone by.
“You don’t have to go very far for inspiration.”

Beyond the gallery, commissions, corporate sales, and event painting, Armstrong strongly believes in donating her time and work to causes like Kids Help Phone.

Already this year, she has donated seven items to various charities.

Shirley Rosin, a local artist who creates masks for theatre groups, weddings and photo shoots, joined Armstrong’s gallery a few months ago.

“She’s very high energy,” Rosin said. “You can tell by her paintings. I guess that’s why we get along so well together.”

Armstrong has been approached about expanding the gallery, and hopes to hire someone to mind the store so she can focus on her work.

“We’re only growing. It will be interesting to see in the next five or ten years where all of this goes. I’m having a heck of a good time.”

To see Armstrong’s work, head to the gallery at 320 First Street West or visit justimajan.com.

No related stories.

• Filed under Community | Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed.