Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Reckers.
Hi Jan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I made a major shift in 2011 from working with clients as a Holistic Nutrition Counselor to pursuing art. Burnout and being in a very left brain space pushed me to dive into something totally different. I took a few art classes but am mostly a self-taught artist. Leaving a field devoted to wellness to play with paint and canvas was a big move! But it quickly became clear that this was not only healing for me, but could be a way to deliver wellness to others. My art has shifted a lot over the years. I worked with mixed media/collage/acrylic for a long time, but have loved getting familiar with other mediums recently. Stamp carving is my current obsession. It is tedious and detail oriented but so satisfying. That led to handmade prints and fabric printing. My biggest ongoing long term project is a collaboration with an Animal Communicator/friend on an Oracle Deck. In 2020, I did a collaboration with world renowned slam poet, Buddy Wakefield that sold out in minutes. Combining creative talents is such a fun part of my process.
Whatever I’m working on, I am using as much intuition as skill. In 2026 I launched a unique offering based on that intuitive aspect. I offer Art Oracle readings on my website, creating an intuitive original art piece.
Calling my business Peace Meal Art is a call back to my previous career. The core is still the same: making a meal of peaceful, joyful, loving content through the creative arts as a path to wellness.
Today, I get to work in my home studio on a variety of projects. My handmade cards, my longest running art, is sold in a Wichita boutique, along with original art and prints. My website is a great way to view or purchase my art. You will also find my short card making process videos.
My hope is that when someone connects with my art, they are pointed back to their own creativity and light.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Pursuing art is always a challenge. I’m incredibly lucky to have my spouse’s support in every way and the time to do it. But I’ve faced challenges with chronic pain limiting my capacity to work. I’ve had to learn healthy practices in the studio that won’t exhaust me or throw me into a pain flare. Taking lots of breaks, thinking ahead, planning for clean up as much as creative time – all of that helps. But it can also be rough when that creative flow kicks in and I want to keep going, but my body says no. This means everything I make is small in size and batch. But it feels more meaningful. Being able to create something with my hands is so uplifting when my body feels so limited. Creative joy is medicine and that’s worth figuring out a way to make it work!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In spite of all the different mediums I’ve worked in, I think I’m most known for my handmade cards. It’s the one thing I always want to do. Each card is like a small art collage that’s frameable and giftable. I’ve made and sold well over a thousand. I have a Rainbow Bridge line for Pet Loss; a Neurodivergent line for those who want to bond over their identity; A Pride line to celebrate LGBTQ+ and some quirky, funny, irreverant ones too. Each one is one of a kind, I never repeat. That is something I think sets me apart from other card makers.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I use the YouCut app on my phone to edit long and short form videos for my website. It’s easy to use and has lots of free features. Recently I’ve been relying a lot on the MeteoAgent app. It helps me track barometric pressure and solar flares, which can trigger pain flares. This may actually be one of my best studio tools because it cues me to when I can get into a creative session or need to go easy. The Telepathy Tapes podcast often inspires an artistic idea for me as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peacemealart.com/
- Instagram: @janreckers
