Freedom Flight

Janene Grende

An Idaho native, Janene Grende is recognized for her artistic talent and enthusiastic support of conservation efforts. Painting for over 30 years, Grende’s realistic style and versatility have allowed her to conquer the varied challenges of wildlife, birds, landscapes and equestrian scenes. She paints in a watercolor medium called gouache (rhymes with wash). Gouache uses watercolor-type pigments that are opaque. She also uses silk dyes on silk to create some very vivid paintings of horses, equestrians, cowgirls and wildlife. Janene has completed several paintings for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, twice being chosen the artist of the quarter. She also created three other companion prints for RMEF banquets. The featured artist print “Comfort Zone", featuring two cougar kittens and their Mom, was a very popular print for RMEF. She was selected as the Ducks Unlimited artist of the year for Idaho, the first woman to win this honor and the first person to win it twice. She was also DU Washington State Sponsor print artist. A regular attendee at the Wild Wings Fall Festival Original Show & Sale in Lake City, Minnesota, at Wild Wings headquarters, she has shown many paintings in their originals catalog and sold work through their galleries nation wide. They have also published over ten print editions of Janene’s work. Janene has been a favorite artist for numerous licensing projects for companies like Leanin’ Tree Cards, The Bradford Exchange, and Masterpieces Puzzle Company. Her images have appeared on plates, ornaments, puzzles and greeting cards. Janene was invited to show her horse-inspired paintings with the American Academy of Equine Art in 2002 and 2003, at the Kentucky Horse Park. When she is not painting she is most likely riding the trails of North Idaho on one of her horses. She also works with children and adults through the United States Pony Club, teaching them safe horse management and riding skills.