Artist of the Week: Janet Politte

Janet Politte is a photographer in Seattle with an exhibition at The Seattle Light Room, a dark room and art gallery in Seward Park.

Seattle Refined:How long have you been creating? What mediums do you work with?
Politte: I haven’t been creating seriously for very long, and I would mark the beginning of my serious art-making journey with my enrollment in the certificate program at Photographic Center Northwest seven years ago. During the five years it took to complete the program, I transitioned from photography as a serious hobby to something much deeper. My art is lens-based, so it always starts with photography, which has remained central to my creative process. The formal education I received helped me refine my skills and push my work to a more professional level, turning my passion into a serious artistic pursuit.

I work with a variety of mediums in my photography, though my current project, “Dancing With My Shadow,” was created using digital capture and developed in both Lightroom and Photoshop. Once the images were refined, they were printed using archival methods to ensure their longevity and quality. While digital photography is a key part of my practice now, I’ve also spent time working with film and exploring alternative processes. In particular, I’ve enjoyed making images using the calotype process and experimenting with photo transfers onto metal, which has allowed me to bring a tactile, hands-on element to my work. These diverse methods reflect my interest in both traditional and contemporary photographic processes.

Can you tell us about your artistic process and how the different stages work into it?
My artistic process is fluid and evolves naturally with each project. When I’m working on a project, I’m guided by an emotional connection, allowing the images to find me. Even if I have a vision in mind, the final image often surprises me, taking the work in unexpected directions. From there, I let the images guide the direction of the work, allowing ideas to develop as I explore different perspectives. I don’t adhere to strict plans or rigid structures; instead, I trust in the unfolding of the creative journey, adapting and responding to what each piece calls for. This approach gives my work a sense of authenticity as it grows and changes along with my own experiences and insights.

Tell us about where your inspiration for your art comes from.
Like many artists, the main source of inspiration for my work comes from life experience. Everything I encounter shapes and influences my creative vision, whether it’s the art of others, the beauty and complexity of nature, or the emotional depth of music and literature. Each moment and interaction becomes a thread in the fabric of my work, weaving together to form a personal yet universal expression. I find that the more I engage with the world around me, the more my work evolves, reflecting not only my own journey but the connections between all these different influences.

Do you have a specific “beat” you like best – nature, food, profiles, etc.?
What most often appears in my photographs isn’t tied to a specific genre like landscape or portraiture. Instead, my work is unified by the presence of emotion and geometry. I’m drawn to capturing the subtle emotional undertones in everyday scenes, allowing feelings to surface in unexpected ways. At the same time, I’m fascinated by the structure and form of the world, often focusing on the geometric shapes and patterns that naturally occur around us. This combination creates a visual language in my photography that blends human emotion with the balance and order found in shapes, lines, and spaces.

Do you have one piece of art that means more to you or is extremely special to you?
One image that holds special meaning for me is titled “Crushed.” It’s part of a series I created on depression, and it resonates with me for several reasons. The piece communicates the overwhelming experience of depression — the isolation, the crushing weight of its symptoms, and the sense of invisibility that many who suffer from it endure. Beyond its emotional depth, Crushed is also technically one of my strongest works, with the composition and execution coming together in a way that feels true to the message I intended to convey. This combination of personal significance and technical achievement makes it a piece I hold particularly close.

What experiences in your life have affected your art the most?
Like everyone, I’ve experienced both the highs and lows of life, but it’s often been during times of heartache that I’ve undergone the most meaningful personal growth. Those difficult moments have deepened my empathy and understanding of others, which has inevitably shaped my art. I aim to foster a sense of connection through my work, hoping that viewers can find something of a kindred spirit in what I create. These experiences of vulnerability and resilience have allowed me to infuse my art with a genuine emotional depth, making it a reflection not only of my own journey but of the shared human condition.

If we want to see more of your work, where should we go to find it?
I’m in the process of building a website. It should be live before the end of 2024 and can be found at janetpolitte.com. My Instagram handle is @janet.politte.

What is next for you? Anything you’re working on right now that you’re really excited about?
I’m excited about the next chapter in my artistic journey as I prepare to begin a new project in early 2025. This upcoming series will mark a significant shift in my practice, moving from purely digital printing to an exploration that incorporates gold leafing into my image-making process. I’ve already experimented with this technique on a smaller scale, and now I’m ready to bring it into a full series. This new direction opens up endless creative possibilities, blending the modern precision of digital photography with the timeless, tactile quality of gold leaf, and I’m eager to see how this combination will transform my work.

Lastly, how do you take your coffee? (We ask everyone!)
First and foremost, there must be copious amounts of coffee — daily and without fail. When I’m at home, I like mine coal black and strong, the kind that practically growls at you, preferably a rich Italian roast that tastes like it’s been brewed in the depths of a volcano, and I mellow it out with a generous splash of half and half. But when I’m out, it’s all about the latte, a triple shot, of course.

About ‘Artist of the Week’: This city is packed with artists we love to feature weekly on Seattle Refined! If you have a local artist in mind that you would like to see featured, let us know at hello@seattlerefined.com. And if you’re wondering just what constitutes art, that’s the beauty of it; it’s up to you! See all of our past Artists of the Week in our dedicated section.