Jane Gottlieb’s artistic path has been shaped by a lifelong devotion to color, movement, and visual energy. Based in Los Angeles, she began her creative life as a painter before turning toward photography, where she found new ways to explore structure, rhythm, and light. Over three decades ago, Gottlieb took a decisive turn that would define her practice: hand-painting individual Cibachrome prints, transforming photographic images into singular, tactile objects. This labor-intensive process allowed her to merge painting and photography into one physical surface, where color became both material and message.
Today, Gottlieb extends that practice through digital tools, scanning her hand-painted works and refining them in Photoshop before producing archival prints on aluminum, canvas, and paper. While her methods have evolved, her intention remains steady. Color, for Gottlieb, is not decoration. It is a way of living, a source of joy, and a daily reminder of vitality, optimism, and emotional presence.
Going Up & Up: An Image of Forward Motion and Light
“Going Up & Up” stands as a clear expression of Jane Gottlieb’s belief in the emotional force of color. The image depicts an interior stairway ascending toward a bright opening, rendered in intense layers of pink, yellow, blue, and violet. Architectural lines are sharply defined yet softened by the saturation of color, creating a sense of motion that feels both physical and psychological. The staircase becomes more than a structure; it becomes a metaphor for momentum, growth, and possibility.
At first glance, the image feels playful and electric. The colors are bold, unapologetic, and immersive. Yet beneath that surface energy lies a careful balance of composition and direction. The rails guide the eye upward, the steps repeat in steady rhythm, and the ceiling frames a clear destination. Gottlieb uses these elements to suggest progress without strain. The climb feels inviting rather than arduous, reinforcing her view of the piece as an embodiment of positive and optimistic energy.
Gottlieb has spoken about the importance of uplifting feelings, especially during moments of transition such as Christmas and New Year’s. “Going Up & Up” reflects that seasonal sensitivity without relying on literal symbols. There are no overt holiday references, no decorations or figures. Instead, the sense of renewal comes through color and movement alone. The upward trajectory suggests fresh starts, while the light-filled opening at the top of the stairs hints at clarity and hope ahead.
Color plays a central role in shaping this emotional response. Gottlieb’s palette does not attempt realism. The hues are heightened, almost celebratory, pushing the image into a space where perception and feeling intersect. Yellow carries warmth and vitality, pink introduces softness and joy, blue offers openness, and purple adds depth. Together, they form a visual language that communicates optimism without words. The result is immediate and visceral, engaging the viewer before any intellectual reading begins.
The process behind the work deepens its meaning. Originating as a hand-painted photographic print, the image carries traces of touch and intention beneath its polished finish. Gottlieb’s transition into digital refinement does not erase that history; it amplifies it. By scanning and enhancing her hand-painted prints, she preserves the individuality of each mark while allowing the work to live in new formats. Aluminum surfaces intensify the luminosity of color, canvas introduces texture, and paper offers intimacy. Each choice affects how the image is experienced, yet the core emotion remains intact.
“Going Up & Up” also reflects Gottlieb’s broader philosophy that art should actively contribute to emotional well-being. She approaches color as a source of happiness, a way to lift spirits and counterbalance the weight of daily life. In this sense, the artwork functions almost like a visual affirmation. It does not deny difficulty or complexity, but it insists on movement forward. The staircase does not end halfway; it continues upward, inviting the viewer to follow.
There is also a quiet universality in the piece. Stairs are familiar, transitional spaces encountered by nearly everyone. By transforming this common structure into a vibrant field of color, Gottlieb reframes the ordinary as something charged with meaning. The act of going up becomes symbolic of resilience, curiosity, and choice. It suggests that progress can be joyful, that change does not have to be heavy.
Ultimately, “Going Up & Up” captures what defines Jane Gottlieb’s practice: a commitment to color as an emotional force and a belief in art’s ability to encourage optimism. The work does not instruct or persuade. Instead, it offers an experience—one that feels buoyant, energizing, and quietly hopeful. In moments when uplifting energy feels especially needed, Gottlieb’s image stands as a reminder that movement, light, and color can still carry us forward.
