Louisiana portrait artist's work takes a journey to the moon

Maines said she didn't realize she had won at first. When she checked the site, her name wasn't listed among the winners. What she didn't know was there was a separate category for pastels.

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—One Shreveport artist had an out-of-this-world opportunity when her work was included in a time capsule recently sent to the moon.

Since Janet Maines began drawing nine years ago, she has won several contests and had her artwork featured in multiple publications. But when she won a contest with the Art Renewal Center, she had no idea that her work would take her to new heights.

Maines, a local portrait artist known for her detailed and expressive drawings, is one of 35,000 artists worldwide whose works are included in time capsules in the Lunar Codex Project.

The Lunar Codex Project includes six time capsules containing works from some of the best artists in the world to be launched into space with NASA's Artemis missions. These capsules incorporate work from artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers from 243 countries, territories and Indigenous nations.

"It's there, and I feel like God just opened every door for me to just walk right through. Here I am in Shreveport with no formal training in drawing or art and I’ve got a piece on the moon. It's just incredible to me," said Maines.

Her portrait of her daughter's dog Roux was one of two pieces she entered in a contest with the Art Renewal Center, a prestigious organization for artists who specialize in realism. The contest opened the door for her work with the Lunar Codex project.

"I’m very timid about all of this because I have no formal training. And so, I have always felt like, ‘There are people out there that have studied all over the world. How can you compete against those people?’"

Maines said she didn't realize she had won at first. When she checked the site, her name wasn't listed among the winners. What she didn't know was there was a separate category for pastels.

Two weeks after the contest, she went to look at the artists' work.

"I'm scrolling down, scrolling down, scrolling down, scrolling down, way down, and there's my piece. Literally, I think the neighbors could have heard me screaming," she said laughing.

Her piece featuring Roux won runner-up in the Best in Pastel category, which allowed her to participate in a Sotheby's auction in New York City. There, she learned that NASA and Intuitive Machines selected the winners and runners-up to send their work to the moon.

Project creator Samuel Peralta said the Lunar Codex missions are part of the most significant placement of contemporary arts on the Moon in over fifty years. "Our hope is that future travelers who find these time capsules will discover some of the richness of our world today. It speaks to the idea that, despite wars, pandemics, and climate upheaval, humankind found time to dream, time to create art.”

Maines watched the launch on Facebook and watched it land on the surface of the moon eight days later. The capsule is just to the left of the South Pole, where it will stay for the next million years or more.

She said her journey this far was a surprise. Maines joined an art group in a garage apartment nine years ago and began improving quickly. Later she joined the Portrait Society of America.

Maines said she's drawn to the range of lights and darks you can create with graphite and charcoal. Her more recent works have incorporated pastels, giving a pop of color that brings the artwork to life.

"I love portraiture, what gives a face form," she said. "There’s something about life in people's eyes or even in dogs' or cats' eyes that just grabs me. It makes me want to know more. It's like you can almost see inside of them when you look at someone's eyes, and I like to try to capture that."

When asked what she would like to see in the future for Shreveport's art community, Maines explained that she'd like more opportunities for artists that focus on realism.

"We've got some wonderful organizations that really help with some abstract things, and I like abstract art as well, but my heart is in realism."

Maines teaches an adult drawing class and offers private lessons for adults and children interested in learning to draw. For her, teaching and witnessing her students' progress is satisfying.

Her students are excited about her artwork included in the Lunar Codex and are happy to be a part of it.

Those interested in commissioning a portrait can visit her website or social media and tell her what type of artwork they want done.

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