‘Self-discipline, persistence and noticing things’

Jan Tindall [Supplied]

Like several other north central Florida artists, Janice “Jan” Tindall relocated from the northern U.S. and found her muse during the second act of life.

But Tindall’s backstory clinically contrasts with the bios of her more bohemian contemporaries. 

A retired physician, Tindall was born and raised in northeast New York and attended college at the University of Rochester, where she met and married Bob Tindall, “the love of her life.” 

The couple lived for four years in Wyoming before relocating to Pennsylvania, where they lived for 40 years and raised three daughters. Janice attended medical school and then practiced as a family physician and Bob became a psychologist. 

“Self-discipline, persistence and noticing things” helped Janice Tindall become both a doctor and an artist.

When she and Bob moved to Florida, life began to take on a new swirl, enhanced by the delicate strokes of watercolors after she started attending art classes in The Villages. She picked up a new love in life, made friends and found encouragement after joining the Ocala Art Group, The Villages Visual Arts Association and The Villages Art League.

She recently sold originals and prints at the Fine Arts For Ocala’s (FAFO) Ocala Arts Festival and has procured a regular spot in the Second Saturday Art Walk in Leesburg. 

Works by the doctor-turned-painter benefit from the good doctor’s patience and precision, leaning toward realistic depictions. 

“Death Valley Dunes”
Watercolor – 16” x 20” (size includes matting)

Jan Tindall’s “Betta Beauty”
Watercolor – 16” x 20” (size includes matting)

“I find beauty in the world as it is,” she writes in her artist statement.

“There are infinite possibilities with watercolor,” she said, adding that she is beginning to move into more impressionistic territories “as a growth thing” and has become more discerning in composition. Besides watercolor and ink, Tindall creates art with graphite and Conte crayons. 

She especially likes watercolor, “how it flows and mixes.” Most of her paintings are originals. Prints and giclees are available on Tindall’s website. 

“Serenity”
Watercolor – 30” x 38” (size includes matting)

Some paintings are adaptations of works by other artists who gave permission for their work to be copied. Many are from photos taken while traveling, which is one of her favorite pastimes, along with boating and birdwatching. In one portrait, she captures the idyllic waterfall of Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, a Williston botanical garden created out of an old quarry. 

Tindall also does portraits of children, adults and pets on commission. 

The grandmother of six who once treated the sore throats of children and chronic conditions of adults said she now takes inspiration from just being in nature.

Looking at her works, you can’t help but get a tranquil feeling. Maybe it’s that old bedside manner, knowing innately how to soothe and heal. Maybe, Tindall is a natural when it comes to tranquility.

“If you’d ask my husband, he’d say ‘no,’” Tindall said with a laugh. “I’ve always been sort of a type A and painting is my getaway. I can lose myself in it, you know? As time goes by, I forget to start supper, things like that.” 

Meet Tindall and see her works at the Leesburg Second Saturday art walk and at “Reflections,” the Ocala Art Group’s February show at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala. For more information, visit jansartworks.com.