Born and raised in the Midwest, Jan Trager has always has a passion for the creative forces of art, either in vibrant paint strokes or sketching musicians playing their instruments. She describes her approach to painting in her own words:
I paint in oils and am inspired by color, immediacy of the brush stroke, composition, and being surrounded by nature, cityscapes, and people.

“I love to paint almost any subject that is in front of me. Everything is fun to see and explore with a paint brush. The changing light and the different seasons are awe-inspiring. Painting outdoors involves the intense excitement of becoming fully attuned to my surroundings. I have always loved the outdoors, so when plein air painting was introduced to me in 2000, it just seemed to go hand in hand with my outdoorsy nature. Painting in plein air is challenging, as the light quickly changes. I started painting with Missouri Plein Air Painters Association, MOPAPA in the year 2000, which inspired me to continue painting outdoors. Painting is a personal journey into the discovery of how beautiful the natural world is.

I have taken several workshops from artists I admire.  I continually study art thru nature, and want to grow as an artist by observing others and remaining teachable. 


I studied at East Central College in Union, Mo, and Meramec Community College in Kirkwood, Mo. and have a two year degree in fine arts, but I consider myself a self taught artist.

If you are interested in visiting my studio and viewing others works of art, visit my contact page!"