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Janna Bissett started her business LilacPOP a year and a half ago and has seen a wave of appreciation for her unique creations.
PHOTOS (8)Clawson resident Janna Bissett recently made a name for herself in the artist’s world by selling paintings, photographs and jewelry with her business LilacPOP.
After years of filming for real estate companies to create virtual tours, Bissett decided to buckle down a year and a half ago and make a career out of her love for the arts while continuing her real estate freelance work.
Having an eye for art and hands for jewelry making started at a young age for Bissett, but her visions changed along the way. Nature photography used to capture her interest, but now she prefers to intrigue her audiences with an urban style, snapping photos of busy cities, wandering lights and graffiti-painted walls.
“I don’t like to do anything normal; I like to mix it up,” said Bissett, 36.
Although Bissett likes working in darkrooms, she did make the transition to digital photography; she resisted at first, but now likes manipulating photos. Aside from her scenic snapshots, which she offers in a variety of shapes and sizes printed on metallic paper, she prints many photos on wood blocks as well. Another photo opportunity she has played with is using an old cash register, taking apart the keys and displaying the numbers for "save the date" cards or framed photos, which have been popular.
More unique works
When Bissett doesn’t have a camera strap around her neck, she most likely can be found with a paintbrush in hand, knitting or creatively shaping a new metallic artifact for her jewelry collection.
“I like to balance an industrial look with a delicate one,” she said. “I like to take discarded things and shine them up, too.”
One item in particular she used for her jewelry designs was a vintage erector set that she found at a garage sale. She molded many pieces for necklaces out of the erector set, including some of her favorite pieces. Many have been adorned with leather weaves through the chains and Swarovski crystals.
“I like to use stuff that is real and has history to it,” Bissett said.
Bissett paves her way with trial and error and noted that it’s the busy body side of her that keeps her reaching for a new, edgier way to create her pieces.
Another popular item comes from her use of sheet metals for necklaces that can be personalized with city or family names. She has played around with buttons, bottle caps and even pennies to see what different jewelry pieces she could create.
Customers show appreciation
Customer Penny Hampshire from Rochester Hills describes Bissett’s jewelry as unique, which is what Bissett strives to be. Hampshire said she once saw earrings made out of pencils that Bissett had crafted. Bissett has also shaped earrings from scraps of pill bottles.
“I love everything she does, it’s so unique,” Hampshire said. “The fact that she can find things that you and I would throw in a junk drawer or just discard and make incredible pieces out of it is just fantastic.”
Hampshire noted that several times something she purchased from Bissett has turned into a conversation piece. “People just love her pieces because they are so different,” she said.
Bissett’s studio is at her house and her work can be found at etsy.com and in many nearby cities. The Yellow Door Art Market and Catching Fireflies in Berkley, Ann Arbor Art Center and 323 East in Royal Oak are just a few places she has her work available for purchase.
Cheryl Jones, manager of Yellow Door Art Market, agreed Bissett’s artwork is unique. The Yellow Door Art Market rents out space to 70 individual artists and has a youth section as well. “She has a collection of creativity here at the store of a nice and fun variety,” Jones said.
Jones noted that people like Bissett’s work because it is different and many pieces are recognizable and things that people can relate to.
“She is so super talented in so many different mediums,” Hampshire said. “I think the future holds a lot for her.”
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