Janet Sessoms' artistic journey began at the age of eight in a small town in North Carolina, where her first oil painting lessons sparked a lifelong passion for art. Though her path to becoming a full-time artist was unconventional—starting with a college degree in home economics and a rewarding 22-year career in education—her dedication to art has never wavered. Now retired and embracing her role as a full-time artist for over 13 years, Janet brings her passion to life through her vibrant paintings, blending painterly realism with an impressionistic style. With influences ranging from classical masters like Joaquin Sorolla to contemporary artists, Janet's work captures the beauty of everyday scenes, using color, light, and shape to evoke emotion. As she continues to grow in her craft, Janet is excited to share her art with the world, hoping viewers can feel the same joy she experiences while creating it.
By Sara Beck
Janet Sessoms has been drawn to painting since she was eight years old. “I took my first oil painting lessons in Williamston, North Carolina, and that sparked my passion,” she recalls. During college, she majored in home economics, not seeing art as a career option until all three of her children were school-aged and she began taking art classes at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville. After this, she earned an Art Education degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She believes that teaching for 22 years helped her understand she could be an artist. “I trust I had a positive influence on many students,” she remarks—“They certainly had a great influence on me.”
Now retired and having been a full-time artist for thirteen years, Sessoms is delighted to have the time to pursue her passion. Her creative process begins with capturing scenes that catch her eye, paying attention to color, shape, and light. Sometimes she does color studies or pencil drawings in the moment, though she primarily works in her studio where she’s most comfortable.
Describing her style as a“painterly realism” rooted in tradition, Sessoms avoids photo-realism in favor of more impressionistic brushwork. Some of her inspirations are Joaquin Sorolla, John Singer Sargent, and Berthe Morisot, and her personal art collection includes work by Dan Beck, Kevin MacPherson, James Richards, Nancy Tankersley, Eric Wiegardt, Hai Hou, Sandy Nelson, Alex Powers, and John Brady.
Lately, Sessoms has been focused on attending workshops and taking classes to hone her skills. She’s recently been invited to participate in the Indigo Art Show at Sunset River Gallery and the Southeastern Landscape Show at the Red Springs Gallery of Art and is also showing work at Fine Art Local in Wilmington, North Carolina. When thinking about people viewing her work, she says, “I hope they receive the joy that I feel creating it.”
To see more of Sessoms’ work, visit fineartlocal.com and janetbsessoms.com
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