Jane Barlow
Watercolour
Biography
Born in Sri Lanka, with a childhood in the UK and an adolescence in Nova Scotia, I have lived in Ottawa throughout my adult life. I have been painting in watercolour for over thirty years, alongside a career as a psychiatrist specializing in long-term psychotherapy. This dual path has deeply informed my artistic practice, guiding me toward themes of psychological and emotional depth.
My work explores the ways in which we are interconnected with forces greater than ourselves—echoing Jung’s idea of the collective unconscious. For me, art in all its forms—visual, written, or musical—offers a way to reframe and reflect upon human experience. The act of painting becomes both inquiry and revelation, a dialogue between the inner and outer worlds.
Though largely self-taught, I have studied under the guidance of many respected artists through workshops and courses, both locally and internationally. I choose to work exclusively in watercolour and within defined thematic boundaries, finding that these self-imposed limits cultivate focus and authenticity.
My artistic aim is to inhabit the space between realism and abstraction—creating works that are interpretive, expressive, and at times enriched by elements of pattern and calligraphic gesture.
Website: www.janebarlowart.com
Instagram: @janebarlowart.com
Email: jmbarlow.art@gmail.com