Janice Lampos has never known a life without art.

As long as Janice can remember, creativity has been part of her identity – from sketching as a child in a pre-TV era to painting vibrant cityscapes later in life. What makes her story extraordinary is her ability to adapt, persist, and create no matter what obstacles come her way.

Through battles with cancer, a severe injury, and health-related challenges that forced her to change mediums, Janice has never stopped creating. Her work showcases her natural artistic skill and reflects her resilience, emotion, and deep connection to the world around her. Whether capturing the play of shadows on a city street, the essence of a person in a portrait, or the vibrant colors of a past journey, Janice paints what moves her – both physically and emotionally.

“I’ve had to adjust,” she says. “But stopping? That was never an option.”

From Childhood Sketches to a Lifelong Passion

Janice’s love for art started early. Growing up without television, drawing was her entertainment. She found joy in sketching whatever was in front of her, practicing until her work became more refined.

“I was born with a drawing stick in one hand and a needle and thread in the other,” Janice laughs.

Later in life, she discovered watercolor, a medium she fell in love with for its fluidity and expressive possibilities.

“I liked how unpredictable it could be,” she says. “You never have full control, and that’s part of what makes it exciting.”

Her sister always encouraged her to take her watercolors with her, and she found opportunities to paint wherever she was. When staying with her niece, she painted everything she could find around the house – from the mantel to the dog. Seeing Janice’s work and enthusiasm, her niece encouraged her to pursue watercolor further.

Inspired to refine her skills, Janice began exploring the St. Joe Valley Watercolor Society and later took lessons with Elizabeth James, further developing her technique and artistic style.

For years, watercolor was her primary medium, but as her life and health changed, so did the way she approached art.

Art Through Adversity

Janice’s connection to watercolor deepened during one of the most challenging times of her life – her recovery from breast cancer. As part of the healing process, she immersed herself in painting, spending two years at Leeper Park, joining the Watercolor Society, and refining her technique through lessons.

Her artistic path took a turn at a Northern Indiana Artists meeting, where she heard Tom Tooley mention that he and a group of artists were starting a school. One of the classes he planned to teach was pet portraiture using pastels.

“I loved painting pets, so I decided to take the class,” she recalls.

That decision opened a new chapter in her art. Pastels quickly became her medium of choice, allowing her to create soft, detailed pieces that captured the spirit of the animals she painted.

After a few years, her asthma worsened, and working with pastels became difficult. Once again, she had to adapt – switching to oil paints to continue her work.

Then came another major challenge. A serious fall down her basement steps left her with fractures in her neck and back, limiting her ability to carry heavy materials.

Forced to rethink her approach yet again, Janice finally returned to watercolor – a medium that was easier to transport and allowed her to continue creating, even with physical limitations. Despite the changes in tools and technique, one thing remained the same: her deep connection to the subjects she painted.

What Inspires Janice’s Art?

Janice’s work is deeply personal. She isn’t drawn to landscapes or traditional subjects. Instead, she prefers people, cityscapes, and the way light and shadow interact in the world around her.

“I have to be passionate about what I’m painting,” she says. “I can’t paint things I don’t feel connected to. It has to mean something to me.”

Her compositions often capture the emotion of a moment – a lively city street, a person deep in thought, or a fleeting interaction bathed in light and shadow.

More than just skill or technique, her art comes from within.

“What I do is an instinctive talent that God has given me,” she says.

When her oncologist, impressed by her work, asked if she could teach him how to draw and paint, she had to suggest a different teacher.

“I told him, ‘I can’t tell you how because I don’t know how,’” she recalls. “It’s just something I do.”

Unlike artists who rely on rigid techniques, Janice’s process is fluid and intuitive. She doesn’t follow strict formulas. She doesn’t recreate her painting exactly, because she doesn’t fully remember how she created each one.