Jan Huling: "The Beadist"

Jan Huling’s booth at last week’s SOFA Expo caught my eye with its vibrant colors and interesting sculpture. But it wasn’t until I got closer that I realized everything was covered in beads! Gazillions of them. Tiny, tiny beads only a few times the size of large grains of sand.

Jan Huling calls herself "The Beadist" and beads just about every interesting object she can get her hands on: guitars, matchstick boxes, tables, teapots, Buddha statues, a box of mannequin hands she bought off a friend, the list goes on and on…

Her website warns “she is liable to bead anything that stands still.” I secretly kick myself for not holding my breath or standing still enough during the interview.

Jan Huling

Jan Huling

From website www.janhuling.com

Jan’s designs are so intricate and well designed, with a seemingly perfect placement of every single bead. Had someone like Jan Huling showed up at Career Day decades ago when I was in middle school, I surely would have chosen a different career. Why didn't anyone tell me that "Beader" was a viable option?

Here is what ART Punctuate found out about Jan Huling during an interview with “The Beadist.”

Most of the things she beads are found objects. She says, “I always have my eye open for a good shape.”

She was inspired to start beading after her sister beaded a Pez Dispenser. Jan joined her sibling on the "beading bandwagon" and first beaded several Kazoos.

She quit her day job two years ago because she knew that in order to build a complete body of work she would have to “bead” full time.

A signature trademark on her beaded birds, dolls and animals? A fancy beaded booty-hole, "just in case they need to poo.”

Jan is now represented by the Lyons Wier Gallery after participating in the The ART Bazaar where she sold $10,000 worth of beaded sculptures in 10 hours .

She was a commercial artist for 30 years, including time spent at Hallmark as a greeting card designer.

She turned down a full-time job with Avon after 9/11, to pursue her passion, not because Avon isn't completely fabulous and wonderful, but because "life is too short to go out working for someone else."

One object Jan beaded that was not a "found object", was a mold her husband, who is also an artist, made for her in the shape of a human heart (I guess you could say "she beaded his heart...lol")

I checked out Jan's website and particularly liked "Beaded Mao Shelf" and "Bad Baby". I speculate that a woman who can bead this intricately must be disciplined, organized and head-smart, but also judging by her subject matter (and the silver studded booty-holes) whimsical, fun and open-minded. If my thoughts are correct, a very nice combination indeed.

Jan Huling not only seems to love what she does, she looks like she loves what she does. Youthful and effervescent, I have a hard time believing she has been a commercial artist for 30 years. Goes to show, do what you love and the beauty will follow.

When I ask her what’s the best thing about being an artist, she takes a moment to think….but then perks up and quickly replies “It’s Sexy!”

I have to say, I couldn’t agree more.