Author Archives: janellmithani

Le Lapin, (Bunny) Painting

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I finished this painting a few months ago and just realized I hadn’t shared it on my blog.  The title is “Le Lapin, Bunny” and it is acrylic on canvas, 20″  x 24.”

Le Lapin Bunny painting by Janell Mithani

My dearest girlfriend, Carolyn, was visiting me in the studio just after I had finished the painting, and she titled the piece for me.  Hence the French… I don’t speak French, but I love the title!  Thank you, Carolyn!!

 

This is the youngest “Wildish Spirit” I’ve painted. It’s interesting how they sometimes change a bit or look older from sketch to paint.  i suppose, it is just part of my creative process and the difference in mediums that I used.  Here is the original sketch that I created last summer.

Manga Girl Sketch by Janell Mithani

I hung the painting at the end of our hallway so I can look at it while I walk down the hall. 🙂

It is my favorite place in our home to hang a painting as I walk by it a hundred times a day.  It is also the place where I swap pieces out the most.  Throughout the year, I change the paintings depending on my mood, seasons and what I have created in the studio.  Since we have such mild weather year-round, I often hang a painting that reminds me of the current season. 

I hope you are having a wonderful end to your summer and wish you a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

A Self Portrait Painting

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A couple of weeks ago, I taught a “Self Portrait Painting” workshop.  This is my sample painting.

Actually, it’s my first painted self-portrait.  I’ve done a few self-portrait photographs when I needed to update my headshot, but never a painting.

I worked with a limited color palette that was influenced by the beautiful paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci. It was a bit different approach than my usual colorful palette.

We had a great time in the workshop and it was so fun to see all the different paintings.

Have you worked with a limited palette lately?

Or created a self-portrait?

Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

A Sweet and Fun Loving Puppy Snuck into My Sketchbook

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Look who snuck into my sketchbook! 🙂  I sketched this sweet little dog for a client.  His name is Oscar and he is dachshund.  Isn’t he just adorable?

Oscar drawing of dog by Janell Mithani

I started out with a light sketch, adding shading and highlights as the drawing progressed.  I used 2B, 4B, 6B pencils with a little charcoal at the end for my deep shadows.  I also used a 1/4″ blending stump and a gum eraser.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Hope you have a wonderful, creative, day!  Janell

Vintage Dress Form Painting…

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Spring Greetings!

I’ve been away from blogging for a couple of months due to family matters.  In March, my dad fell and injured his neck and has temporary paralysis, so I have been making a few trips back and forth to Oregon to visit and help out during his recovery. I must say…. it is FREEZING cold in that neck of the woods.  I am back home this week in sunny California and enjoying our 80 degree weather.  Everything is blooming and inspiring me to paint.

One good thing about not blogging for a while, is that I have lots of artwork to share.  While sitting with my dad, I had lots of time to sketch and in between trips, I’ve created a few paintings in the studio.  And my stress release habit of creating jewelry… well, let’s just say, I have quite a few new pieces I need to photograph and load to my online store. 🙂

I just looked thru my posts and noticed I haven’t shared this sweet little 8″ x 10″ painting that I made in February.

Romantic Vintage Fairy Dress Painting by Janell Mithani

It most certainly embraces my absolute love and fascination for everything vintage! And yes, I added wings! 🙂  I’ve collected and worn vintage dresses and jewelry since I was a teen, and love to use old dress forms to display my jewelry.

I hope you are doing well and I look forward to catching up on everyone’s blog posts.

I wish you a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

 

 

Two Timing My Easel

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The sun is finally shining this week and it has motivated me to not only work on one painting, but to do two paintings at once.  Actually, I do this often.  It is a creative process I enjoy. I like to work on a large painting and a smaller painting at the same time.  I have a floor easel that is my main easel and a smaller table easel that I put on a pedestal next to it to work on smaller canvases.

working on two paintings in the studio by janell Mithani

It is fun for me to hop between the two and also practical to work on one when I am waiting for the other to dry or if I need to take a break and, you know…  think! 🙂

Do you ever work on two projects at once?  Does this type of process work for you?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have a wonderful, creative day, Janell

 

 

Happy New Year from Bella!

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Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.  We had our daughter home from school which was a gift in itself and had some wonderful visits with family and friends.  As usual, time certainly flew!A few weeks before th e holidays, I created this painting “Bella.”

painting of dog Bella by artist Janell Mithani

When I began the painting, I had a few concerns about painting a “white” dog.  But I was in luck, as my painting process worked great for this type of painting.

I work from dark to light, starting with a dark under-painting and then getting lighter as the painting progresses.  I also work back to front, laying in the background and then moving forward getting lighter and more detailed, thinking of my painting in “parallel planes” or chunks of parallel space that stack up as I move forward towards what is closest to me.

For this painting, I started with a deep gray background to compliment the grayish undertones in her fur.  I then blocked in a slightly smaller shape of the dog with grayish white.  Then I added hair and details, with each layer getting lighter and lighter, and I refined the shape of the dog with each layer.  For her features, I did the same process dark to light, adding details to the nose and eyes. The final steps were adding highlights to the eyes and her whiskers. It was hard to not paint the whiskers in earlier as I really wanted to paint them! 🙂

I do enjoy painting animals, the hair and fur are especially fun to paint.  But of course, my favorite part was painting the eyes! (I know, those of you who are familiar with my art are not surprised.)

A few more animals are sure to make it to my easel this year.  Along with more “Wildish Spirits” and a new series of feminine vintage memories that I began working on over the holidays.

I look forward to hearing what all of you have planned for the new year and wish you a wonderful, creative, year, Janell

Angel Paintings

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I’ve been thinking of angels a lot lately, so I created a couple of paintings with sweet little angels. 🙂  I hope you enjoy them!

painting of sweet angel

This one reminds me of a sweet little red-headed doll that my grandmother gave me when I was a little girl.  And I still have the doll. 🙂

painting of angel by Janell Mithani

The next couple of weeks are going to be super busy with the holiday and spending time with family, so I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and hope you all have a wonderful week.  I am truly thankful for all of you who take the time to read my blog.  Hugs across the miles to you!

Have a wonderful, creative, day!  –Janell