The Cold Case Project Files: Reviving an Old Artwork on a Snow Day ❄️

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When the first snowfall arrived, it turned the whole world quiet… and magically cozy. The studio felt like a winter hideaway, and I decided it was the perfect day to revisit an old project that had been tucked away and forgotten — something I now call “The Cold Case Project Files.” 🗂️

A few years ago, I challenged myself to create one artwork two different ways:• first as an oil painting, and• then again using needle + wet felting (painting with wool!) One version was completed long ago… but the second was left unfinished — waiting for the right moment to be revived. In this video, I bring the felted version back to life — warming up old skills, transferring the original image onto wool, and slowly shaping leaves, feathers, and color until it starts looking like something again. 🎨🪡

This is part 1 of a cozy winter mini-series — a project filled with texture, trial-and-error, and that satisfying feeling of returning to something you once loved. I hope it inspires you to dig out your own forgotten art and play again. 🥰

Videos mentioned• Oil Painting Pink Bird - https://youtu.be/_sBDAyzgbKw

Felting video Pink Bird- https://youtu.be/yoUV7Py8l68

Tell me in the comments:Do YOU have a creative “cold case file” hiding somewhere? What would you bring back to life first?

Meet My New Painting Collection | Echoes of Old — Dutch-Inspired Country Landscapes

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Echoes of Old — Original Oil Painting Collection
Inspired by The Dutch Masters • Stories Told in Light & Landscape
✨ 20% Off Holiday Sale — Nov 28 to Dec 10 ✨
Shop the collection ➜ [insert your shop link]

There are places where time seems to slow — where a soft wind moves through the grass, and light rests gently on the hills. That’s the feeling behind Echoes of Old, my new collection of 8×10 oil paintings inspired by the quiet beauty of the countryside and the mood of the Dutch masters.

As I painted, a story began to surface — the story of Mrs. Primrose, a young artist living long ago. She spent her days walking the fields, painting in the garden, and sending small painted letters to someone she never named. Whether real or imagined, her presence lingers in these landscapes: gentle, hopeful, and a little mysterious.

Each piece captures a fleeting moment —
• a farmhouse under drifting clouds
• a golden path leading home
• a woman in a white dress waiting in the fields

If you love quiet things… soft light… and stories hidden in the everyday… this collection was made for you.

🖼️ Details
• Original 8×10 oil paintings on wood panel
• Antiqued, painterly surfaces & warm heirloom tones
• Limited collection — once sold, they’re gone
• Optional antique frames available

How I Style & Shoot My Paintings | Behind the Scenes of a New Collection

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Step behind the scenes with me as I prepare my newest painting collection, Echoes of Old, coming November 28th, 2025. Inspired by the quiet magic of the countryside, the warm tones of Dutch Old Master landscapes, and the whispered stories of Mrs. Primrose, this collection is one of my most heartfelt bodies of work yet. In today’s video, I’m taking you into my studio for a full photoshoot day — gathering props, styling vignettes, updating hardware on antique frames, and creating flat-lay scenes that match the tone of the world I’ve been painting. You’ll see how I source materials, how I build visual stories through small details, and how these cozy autumn palettes guide the look and feel of the finished photos. I’ll also share a narrated excerpt from the Echoes of Old story — the quiet life of Mrs. Primrose in the 1800s, the countryside that shaped her days, and the secret letters and landscapes that inspired the collection. This video is a gentle, creative behind-the-scenes moment — full of warm candlelight, textured frames, soft color palettes, and the first full reveal of all seven paintings in the collection. ✨ Echoes of Old releases November 28th, 2025 ✨ Black Friday Sale (20% off): Nov 28 – Dec 10 ✨ Originals will be available at janlakey.com Thank you for being here, for supporting my art, and for stepping into this little world with me. I can’t wait to share more.

Staycation at the National Harbor with my Family

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Plus a new painting from my Echoes of Old Painting Series.

How I Pack Wet Oil Paintings for Travel + Painting a Fall Landscape | Echoes of Old

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Today’s video has two gentle parts to it.
First, I’m leaving the cabin and packing my newly painted landscapes for the drive home. I’m walking you through my 3-step method for safely transporting wet oil paintings in the car — a way that has saved many paintings from smudges, dents, or disasters. No fancy equipment needed, just simple tools and thoughtful handling.

Then we move into the heart of the video: a new painting from my collection Echoes of Old — stories told in color and light.
This landscape grew out of slow autumn days, walks through fields, and quiet moments observing how the air shifts when the seasons change. As the paint moves across the canvas, I share bits of home — gathering fall branches and seed pods from the garden and bringing them inside to create a cozy seasonal vignette.

The video ends with the finished painting framed and hung in my bedroom, where the late afternoon light warms its colors. I hope this feels like a soft place to land.