About – Art by Janis

Early Life

Janis Jo Stevens was born in Buffalo, New York. As a child she loved to draw. As a young adult she relocated to Hardwick, Massachusetts, where she became a regular at craft shows and Renaissance Fairs, doing on-the-spot portraits for posing customers. Concurrently, she attended Worcester State College and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Art, as well as a Masters in Secondary Education.

Key West

In 1988, Janis relocated to Key West, Florida, where she took advantage of an opportunity to teach art in the Monroe County school system. Consequently, she earned a Master of Science in Art Education from Florida International University. At the same time, she began developing her art in a dedicated art studio in her home. She also began doing on-site portraits at the world-famous Sunset Celebration, where she met her husband, Dave Del Rosso. She began exhibiting her work at various galleries in Key West and Coconut Grove. She also began developing her talent in sculpture, becoming a member of the Mud Pi Ceramic club at the Community College of the Florida Keys.

St. Petersburg, Florida

Janis discovered the burgeoning art scene in St. Petersburg, Florida, while visiting her daughter, Jill Stevens, a resident there. Janis loved the cool dance scene there, and became a regular dancer at the famous Gulfport Casino dance hall in the St. Petersburg suburb of Gulfport, Florida. She also frequented the Contra Dances in the area. Ultimately, she fell in love with the area and, along with her husband, decided to relocate there. She now maintains residences both in Gulfport, Florida and Key West, Florida with Gulfport becoming her primary studio.