CV/BIO |

Greetings!

Thank you so much for stopping by, I so appreciate you taking the time to visit my website. I am a mixed media visual artist. If you have any questions or need further information about my art, I can be reached via email at janellmithani@gmail.com.

Have a wonderful, creative, day filled with joy! –Janell

Artist Statement
A world of radiant enchantment merged with the lush details of the forest inspires me to create art. Childlike memories of magical beings float through the landscape of my mind and fill my paintings. I reflect on a childhood spent with the Northern California and Oregon forests as my playground. These memories come to life and are central themes in my art. My work examines relationships between nature, animals and people as well as representing a strong protective, and nurturing awareness. I explore intertwining those thoughts as I work to express myself through my art.

Biography

Janell grew up in a small rural town in the northwestern United States, the youngest in a family who loved gardening, music and the great outdoors. As a teen she sold her violin to buy her first camera and took painting lessons from a local artist. She received a BFA from Southern Oregon State College and re-located to Los Angeles. Shortly after arriving in Southern California, she met her husband and they made their home in Altadena, a small town at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Janell spent 25+ years working as a commercial artist and portrait photographer in LA, and in 2012, returned to fine art painting and teaching art workshops to teens and adults.

Her love for the intimacy of the human face drew her to portraiture early on in her career. A childhood spent exploring the wonders of the forest, began a long time love and respect for our natural environment and its resources. Mithani creates art in photography, oils, pastel, and acrylic paints on a variety of substrates. Most recently exploring water based paints and pigments on recycled tea bags, bark, wood and canvas. She is inspired by her garden, forests, and memories of her childhood, as well as relationships between humans, nature and wildlife. Her most recent series, “Wildish Spirits,” brings a sense of child-like wonder to her contemporary, imaginative art.

Education
BFA, Southern Oregon State College, Ashland, OR, 1984

Galleries
Hoopla!, Altadena, CA
Colonnade Gallery, Pasadena, CA
Arbor Academy of Art, Pasadena, CA
Xanadu Online Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ

Exhibitions
2020 “Proyecto Artístico Comunitario Internacional: Tzompantli Reflexión artística del año 2020,” International Community Art Project: Tzompantli 2020 Artistic Introspection International Traveling Exhibition and Video
2020 “Tzompantli 2020 Artistic Introspection Exhibition, Mexican Consulate, Austin, Texas
2020 “Tzompantli 2020 Artistic Introspection Exhibition, Mexican Consulate, Oxnard, CA
2020 “Winter Installation,” Public Art Project, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2020 “Wanderlust Project,” Worldwide exhibition, Online
2020 “Collectors Show and Exhibition” Fall, Worldwide exhibition, Online
2020 “Spring Flamingo Installation,” Public Art Project, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2020 “Women Leaping Into Action Painting Exhibition,” Airtel Plaza Hotel, Van Nuys, CA
2019 “Fall and Winter Holiday Painting” Public Art, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2019 “CFBPW Women’s Art Exhibition, Pickwick Gardens, Burbank, CA
2019 “4th of July,” Public Art Painting, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2018 “Coffee & Radio, “Public Art Project, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2018 “Spring Installation,” Public Art Project, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2017 ESSCA, October Exhibition, Critique Night, Altadena, CA
2017 Wildish Spirits, March Critique Night, Hisnyu Studio, LA, CA
2017 Spring Exhibit, Stone Cottage, Montrose, CA
2016 “Public Works,” Public Art Installation, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2016 Open Studios Art Tour, Altadena/Pasadena, CA
2016 Evening of Art, Group Exhibition, Art Space Gallery, Altadena, CA
2015 “Public Works,” Public Art Installation, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2015 Open Studios Art Tour, Altadena/Pasadena
2015 Spring Fairies, Group Exhibition, Hoopla, Altadena CA
2014 “Celebrations,” Public Art Installation, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2014 Open Studios Art Tour, Altadena/Pasadena, CA,
2014 Elements, Two Person Exhibition, Alhambra City Hall Gallery, Alhambra, CA
2014 Montrose Art Walk, Summer and Fall Exhibit, Montrose, CA
2014 Solo Exhibit, First United Methodist Church Fine Arts Program, Pasadena, CA
2014 Solo Exhibition, Zephyr Coffee House and Gallery, Pasadena, CA
2013 Montrose Art Walk, Spring Exhibit, Montrose, CA
2012 “Holidays – Window Mural,” Public Art Installation, City of Alhambra, Alhambra, CA
2012 BUD, Solo Exhibit and Book Signing, Bruggemeyer Library, Monterey Park, CA
2011 BUD, Exhibition and Book Signing, Altadena CA
2011 Water and Trees, Group Exhibit, Alhambra City Hall Gallery, Alhambra, CA
2010 Trees R Us, Group Exhibit, Neon Venus Gallery, Hollywood, CA
2009 Featured Artist, ArtNight, Pasadena, CA
2008 Solo Exhibition, Alhambra City Hall Gallery, Alhambra, CA
2008 Altadena Home Tour, Altadena, CA
2005 Manga, Exhibition, Group Exhibit with students, Pasadena Library, Pasadena, CA
1984 Mannequin, Solo Exhibition, Jacksonville Historical Museum, Jacksonville, OR
1984 Solo Exhibition, Southern Oregon State College, Ashland, OR

Selected Collectors and Clients

Avon Products, Inc.
City of Alhambra
City of Pasadena
Corporate Icon
Cross Northwest
Dydee Diaper Service
Girl Scouts of America
Glendale Builders’ Supply
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Dr. Eleanor Leung
Sally Mihlon & Associates
Pasadena Symphony
SGI Construction
The Seville Group
The Walt Disney Corporation
WMW Group
Private Collectors-Worldwide

Bibliography –

Guest Speaking
Speaker, Bruggemeyer Library, Arts Program, Monterey Park, CA July, 2017
Speaker, Bruggemeyer Library, Monterey Park, CA, April, 2012
Speaker, Literacy Luncheon, Pasadena CA, February, 2012
Speaker/Judge Tee Photography contest, Pasadena, CA July 2011
Speaker/Critique, Professional Photographers of Santa Clara Valley, July, 2007
Speaker/Exhibition, San Fernando Valley Professional Photographers, October, 2005

Guest Lecturer
Lecture/Presentation/Critique, Pasadena City College, 2009
Lecture, Pasadena City College, 2008

Authored Publications
BUD, A Collection of Floral and Baby Art. Published book, 2011

Television
Cindy Costales Interview, MPK-TV, Monterey Park, CA, April 3, 2012

Print Media

Colleen Commentz, “Art From Above and Beyond”, Around Alhambra, November, 2014
Around Alhambra, Exhibition announcement, bio and photograph, Spring, 2011
Anne Marie Johnson, “From Bloomers to Boardroom,” California Federation of BPW, 2010
Around Alhambra, Exhibition Press Release and Photograph, August, 2008
Studio Photography Magazine, “Peer 2 Peer”, June, 2008
Wet Set Gazette, Photograph Vol.8, August, 2007
Cover, Wet Set Gazette, Vol.1, January, 2005
Cover, Wet Set Gazette, Vol. 2, February, 2004
Cover, Wet Set Gazette, Vol. 10, October, 2003
Article and Bio, BPW, Business Life Magazine, September, 2004
Bend Tidings, Press release and photographs, Bend, OR, 1985
Ashland Tidings, Press release for Exhibit, Ashland, OR 1984
Medford Mail Tribune, Photography, Medford, OR 1984
Ashland Tidings, Photography, Ashland, OR 1984
The Britt Festival, Photography, Jacksonville, OR 1984
KSOR Radio, Guide to the Arts, Photography, Ashland, OR, 1984
Senior Ventures, Original artwork and Illustrations, Ashland, OR 1982-1984

Online Periodicals and Blogs

Tzompantli: Reflexion Artistica 2020 Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTpkXRW2qWoSmriti Kana
Valley Sunset News, BPWcal.org, October 2019
Blogsite, Happy Creative New Year, January 25, 2018
Bob McClinton, The Orange Cat, Workshop Announcements, 2015, 2016
Lori Webster, “Springtime Hoopla”, Hoopla Emporium Blog, April 24, 2015
Elizabeth Melton Parsons Blog, “Artist Spotlight”, February 6, 2015
Pasadena Now, Exhibition Announcement and Photograph, March 14, 2014
Pasadena Public Library, Teen Blog, Workshop Announcements, Pasadena, CA, 2014
EGP News, Speaking and Exhibit announcement, March 30, 2012
San Marino Patch, Art Workshop announcement and photograph, San Marino, CA, 2012

Selected Workshops

Children’s Family Drawing Workshop, Pasadena, CA, June 2019
Mixed Media Workshop with Teens, Pasadena, CA April 2019
Mixed Media Jewelry Workshop, Pasadena, CA February 2019
Mixed Media Sculpting Workshop, Pasadena, CA March 2019
Mixed Media Jewelry Workshop, Pasadena, CA December 2018
Private Painting Lessons at Studio, Altadena, CA, Ongoing – 2018
Mixed Media Painting and Art Workshop, Two Week Course, Arborview School, June, 2018
Paint and Sip Workshop, Heart Studio, Glendale, CA, June 2018
Mixed Media Painting Workshop, Pasadena Library, Pasadena, CA, April, 2018
Acrylic Painting Workshop, Pasadena, CA, April 2018
Fabric Painting Workshop, Pasadena, CA, February, 2018
Rainforest Art, Villa Parke Community Center Library, Pasadena, CA, January 2018
Tag Art on Paper, December, 2017, Pasadena, CA, December 2017
Sea Themed Watercolor Workshop, Pasadena, CA, July, 2017
Mixed Media Collage, July 2017, Monterey Park, CA Bruggemeyer Library, July, 2017
Self Portrait Painting, July 2017, Monterey Park, CA Bruggemeyer Library, July, 2017
Fairy Garden Workshop, Teens, Alhambra, CA, June, 2017
Fabric and Mixed Media Pendant Workshop, Hill Library, Pasadena, CA May, 2017
Sketching, Demonstration and Workshop, Pasadena, CA, April, 2017
Tea and Mixed Media Painting, Hill Branch Library, Pasadena, CA, March, 2017
Acrylic Painting Workshop, Fall Inspired Nature, Pasadena, CA, August, 2016
Calligraphy and Hand Lettering, Hill Branch Library, Pasadena, August, 2016
Teen Bird and House Painting, Pasadena, July, 2016
Teen Arrow Painting, Pasadena, July 2016
Teen and Children’s Fairy Art Gardens, Pasadena, June- July 2016
Teen Sports Ball Painting, Pasadena, June, 2016
Mother and Daughter Jewelry, Hill Library, Pasadena, May, 2016
Contemporary Tree Painting, Pasadena, CA, April, 2016
Teen Jewelry Design, May, 2016
Mixed Medium Miniature Book, March, 2016
Teen Bracelet Design, February, 2016
Artistic Holiday Gift Tags, December, 2015
Teen Art Necklace, Alhambra Library, January, 2015
Zombie Manga Drawing and Inking, Pasadena Public Library, October 2014
Stylized Cityscapes, Mixed Medium Workshop with Adults, Pasadena, CA, July, 2014
Dot Painting on Australian Tree Bark, Pasadena, CA, July, 2014
Teen Steampunk Necklace Design, Pasadena, August, 2013
Teen Steampunk Jewelry, Alhambra, CA, July, 2013
Painting T-shirts, Teen Workshop, Hastings Library, Pasadena, CA, June, 2013
Manga/Anime Drawing and Inking, Pasadena, July, 2012
Australian Dot Painting on tree Bark, July, 2012
Manga/Anime Art Drawing and Inking, Alhambra, CA, June 2012
Manga/Anime Art Drawing and Inking, Crowell library, San Marino, CA, 2012
Art Jewelry – Create a Bracelet, Belles Nest, Sierra Madre, CA, June 2012
Manga/Anime Art Drawing and Inking, Belles Nest, Sierra Madre, CA March 2012
Art Jewelry with Teens, Belles Nest, Sierra Madre, CA, February, 2012
Beginning Jewelry Design, Adult Workshop, Sierra Madre, CA, September-November, 2011
Photography Week long Workshop with Teens, Pasadena CA, August, 2011
Wire and Mixed Medium Week long Workshop, Pasadena, CA July 2011
Mixed Medium Jewelry Week long Workshop, Pasadena, CA, July 2011
Photography Week long Workshop with Teens, Pasadena CA, July, 2011
Manga/Anime Drawing Five Day Workshop with Teens, San Marino, CA, June 2011
Around the World of Art Five Day Workshop with Teens, Pasadena, CA, June 2011
Jewelry Design Week long Workshop with Teens, San Marino, CA, June 2011
Expressive Painting with Pastels, (Adults), San Marino, CA, June 2011