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Jan's Blog

Picture of CEO, Jan Elizabeth Lakey

I am a creator of kindness. I find joy in creating what I love and sharing it with others. My hope is that you will find something here that inspires you. 

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Latest:

blog
Antiquing at the Largest Antique Mall in America
about a week ago
My First Year on YouTube as an Artist — Was It Worth It?
about 2 weeks ago
Magical Homestead Gardens Holiday Shop + Haul
about a month ago
The Cold Case Project Files: Reviving an Old Artwork on a Snow Day ❄️
about a month ago
Meet My New Painting Collection | Echoes of Old — Dutch-Inspired Country Landscapes
about a month ago

Hello Friend

Let stay in touch. I only send love notes with awesome news.

We respect your privacy.

Hello Beautiful One ✨

Thank you for joining my little corner of the internet. You’re officially on my list — I can’t wait to share new videos, upcoming art sales, and special behind-the-scenes moments with you. 💛

Much love,

Jan


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

November 25, 2025 in Echoes of Old, Holiday, photo shoot, tips and tricks, video

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.

Tags: painting collection, prepping for a collection launch, BTS, echoes of old
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Staycation at the National Harbor with my Family

November 18, 2025 in Echoes of Old, Holiday, travel, video

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

Tags: National Harbor, Holiday, staycation, painting
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How I Pack Wet Oil Paintings for Travel + Painting a Fall Landscape | Echoes of Old

November 11, 2025 in Echoes of Old, tips and tricks, travel, video

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.

Tags: video, diy travel for artist, travel artist, how to pack wet oil paintings, travel with wet paintings, echoes of old, landscape painting
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An Artist’s Tale | The Story Behind Mrs. Primrose’s Country Life

November 04, 2025 in teaching painting, tips and tricks, video, Echoes of Old

Step into another time…
In this week’s video, I’m sharing the story that unfolded while I was painting my newest collection, Echoes of Old — a series of landscapes inspired by the dramatic light and romance of the Dutch masters.

Meet Mrs. Primrose, a woman of quiet grace who spends her days painting, wandering the countryside, and writing letters that reveal a tender mystery. Through each brushstroke, the soft light, and the moody skies, I wanted to capture the feeling of simpler days — when life moved slowly, connected to nature, art, and wonder.

You’ll see me paint and hear the full narrated story of Mrs. Primrose, set among sweeping hills, farmhouse gardens, and golden autumn fields.

🎨 About the collection:
Echoes of Old explores nostalgia and beauty through painterly landscapes, where imagination and memory blend.

Tags: painting, how to start a painting collection, echoes of old, mrs. primrose, dutch old masters
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A Cozy Fall Vlog in the Mountains

October 28, 2025 in video, travel, tips and tricks, thrifting/antiques, Echoes of Old
Tags: painting collection, painting, travel, Cabin, vlog, artist vlog, artist painting tips, landscape painting
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