Author Archives: janellmithani

Rainbow Tulip Painting for Art Auction and Studio Tour

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I am just finishing up this painting of a colorful rainbow tulip to donate to the art auction for the Open Studios Tour.  The art auction will be held on Friday evening to kick-off the weekend event.    The tour is on June 4-5, 11 Am – 5 PM and I will have my studio open on both days.

Rainbow Tulip Painting by Janell Mithani

The Friday evening event “An Evening of Art,” will be held at the Art Space gallery.

The studio is beginning to clean itself… Well, a girl can wish!! 🙂  I pulled out a broom this morning and suddenly, all my fairy friends disappeared.  I suppose I will be sweeping up all those beads I dropped and cleaning off my beading table (beads just seem to multiply) as well as dusting off my easel, all by self.      I have finished a few paintings and I am hoping to finish another large size painting of one of my Fae characters.

Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

Wings and a Different Style of Painting

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I have been working with a limited palette lately.  This painting is more abstract than my usual paintings. I have been studying birds and wings in particular, lately.  So as a result, I have a lot of wing sketches.  I really felt compelled to paint this with a limited palette.

wings painting by Janell Mithani

Heart Wings, Acrylic on Canvas, 11″ x 14″

I just used three paint colors:  titanium white, burnt umber and paynes grey.  I worked on it for three different days, finishing it within a week.  Much faster than my more detailed Fae paintings.  I would love to hear what you think about it and the different painting style.

Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

FAWN Painting – A Fairy Holding a Baby Deer

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I just finished a new painting in my Fae Series.  This painting is titled “FAWN.”

FawnInProcessFinalW

FAWN, Acrylic on canvas, 30″ x 24″

She is the little sister of “DOE”, who I finished painting in January. Here is DOE.

DOE painting by Janell Mithani

DOE, Acrylic on Canvas, 30″ x 24″

I thought it was very fitting that I name her FAWN since she had “spots,” too.  I created the sketch last summer.  You can see my original post from last summer with the original sketch here.

Fawn8x10ListingEtsywlogo

I created the sketch for DOE this past fall and then added the fawns to both of the sketches and began planning the paintings.

 

Next, I enlarged the sketch to the size of my canvas so I could transfer my drawing.   I wanted the painting to be big, 30″ x 24,” so I had to copy sections onto different pieces of paper and then tape them together. I transferred a soft outline of the drawing to the canvas once I had painted the background by rubbing charcoal on the back of the enlarged photocopy and tracing over my sketch.

Enlarged sketch of Fawn painting by Janell Mithani

Here are a few pictures of my painting process…

Blocking in shapes and under-painting.

FawnProcess1Web

I decided to add wings and a bit more work on the background.

Photo pf Fawn painting in process by Janell Mithani

More work on the wings, Darkening the under-painting on the fawn and the beginning of details on the hair.

fawnprocess6Web

Adding details to skin, hair and starting to work on the eyes…

Fawnprocess4Web

Added more details on the deer and started working on fine details.

The last thing I added were some dogwood blossoms, they are my mom’s favorite.  🙂  Here is another look at the finished painting…

FawnInProcessFinalW

I hope you have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

Snow Day

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After a winter visit to Oregon, I felt inspired to paint a snow scene with trees.  I am still thinking of a title…

Oregon Bliss

I am thinking “Oregon Bliss” as the trees around my sister’s cabin were my inspiration.  She certainly lives in a blissful place!

I had a wonderful time on my trip, visiting with family and enjoying all the beautiful scenery. I came home to 80 degree weather, here in Southern California.  It’s amazing the difference in weather with just a few hours plane ride. 🙂

Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

 

 

3 Words for 2016

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Fae of the Earth collage by Janell Mithani

“The Power of Three, Fae of the Earth”

In January, I take a day to do some reflecting on the past year and to make some intentions for the new year.

I choose three words that resonate with me for my “words” for the year.  I started doing this a few years ago, and I really enjoy the process.  I also like to have these words to refer back to each month as they bring me back to my “path” when I get distracted with all the little details of life. 🙂

My three words are for the three areas of my life:  Family, art and me.

My first word is for my family.  Something I want to hold in my mind as I spend special time with them.

My second word is for my art.  A word that will lead and direct me on my creative journey.

My third word is a personal word for just for me.  A directional word to bring myself back to center and keep me true to myself.

My family word is “ADORE”  to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; honor; to like or admire very much. To love intensely.  Of course I love my family, but this year I want to really adore them with respect, honor and support them and their choices in life.  To take time to send cards and do little things that let them know how very special they are to me. 

My art word is “LISTEN.” I plan to use this word in a few ways.  To really listen to my self and my inner thoughts on what I want to paint and what path I want to take with my art.  I am also NOT going to listen to everyone who has an opinion about my art path and who feels the need to share it with me.  Sometimes I get so caught up in what everyone else thinks I should be doing, that I get drawn away from being true to myself (and my fairies.)  I’m giving myself permission to dismiss suggestions and do what I want to do.

Doesn’t that sound like fun!  Of course, this is just in reference to my art, not my entire life. 🙂

Definition of Listen: to concentrate on hearing something.  to take heed; pay attention.  To hear what someone (Myself in this case)  has said and understand that it is serious, important, or true.  To give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing;  to wait attentively for a sound ; (Sometimes I have to wait for my thoughts to complete and re-form.)

My third and personal word is “ALTERNATIVE.”  I want to remind myself that there is always an alternative path than the most followed.  I want to explore alternative paths when making choices this year.  There is always an alternative to the obvious, I just need to take time to think about it and not feel like I “have” to do the obvious or expected, especially if it is something I don’t want to do. Could the alternative just be “no”?  Hmmm… This should make for a very interesting year.  🙂

Do you have words that you pick for the New Year or do you make traditional New Years resolutions?  I would love to hear what will be inspiring you this year.

Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

 

DOE, My Last Painting in 2015

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DOE is the last painting I did in 2015, and she is here to wish you a wonderful, lovely, prosperous and creative New Year!

DOE painting by Janell Mithani

DOE, Acrylic on Canvas, 30″ x 24″

She is the oldest of two fae sisters who lives in the woods and loves animals, especially sweet little fawns who have strayed away from their mothers.  She gently brings them back to their mother’s side.

If you would like to see a post with pictures of my process on this painting, visit this post:

https://janellmithani.com/2015/11/05/doe-painting-in-process/

Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

Artist Trading Card Swap on Grumbacher FB Page

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This is the artist trading card that I submitted for the Grumbacher ATC swap that I joined on the Grumbacher Facebook page.  I ran across this ATC group when I was on their official Facebook page and thought it would be fun to join. She is a mini version of the large painting I am currently working on.Artist Trading Card by Janell Mithani

I have to admit it is challenging to work small.  On my 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ card, I did some layering and worked with ink,. watercolor and colored pencil.  I had a lot of fun with mixing the different mediums and doing all the layers.  I used gel medium to adhere the collage layers together.

And here is the beautiful ATC I received in the mail from the swap.  I just love it!  The artist is Sara Branson. I think we are Fae soul sisters!  🙂

ATC by Sara Branson

Here is a link to the page with all the ATC’s that were sent in for the swap on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.983278728378174.1073741871.160718070634248&type=1&l=bbef15e8fc

If  you would like to participate in an upcoming swap, you can check the Grumbacher site on FB. You may also want to follow their page as you can win a mystery box full of art supplies.  I actually just won a Monday Mystery Box and I can’t wait to receive it! Yippee!

https://www.facebook.com/Grumbacher/?fref=ts

Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

DOE painting in process

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I am still working on my painting, “DOE.” but I thought I would share a few pictures of my progress.

Here is the final sketch from my sketchbook. It is 8″ x 10″.

Doe Sketch

Here is my sketch enlarged on a copy machine and pieced together.  I wanted to paint this one pretty big, so I bought a 24″ x 30″ gallery wrapped canvas.

Here is the canvas with the last coat of tinted gesso.   I was thinking I wanted to go with a lighter background, but you will see that I changed my mind…

. CanvasStep1

And here is the painting with the main subjects blocked in.

Doe blocked in

Now I started feeling the Fall weather and began getting some darker shades worked into the painting.  I always rotate my canvas around on my easel when I am painting certain parts.  I especially like to paint the tips of my hair sideways.  Anybody else do this when they paint or draw?

DoePaintHair

Here is the whole painting sideways on my easel.  I darkened up the background and added texture that gave me the feeling of bark on a tree.

Doesideways

And here it is, right side up with the my progress, so far.

painting Doe holding a fawn in process by Janell Mithani

Hope you have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell

Pansy Flower Painting

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Pansies were my favorite flower when I was a little girl.  They had such large petals and wonderful rich colors.  My Aunt  Helen, who worked at a greenhouse, introduced me to them.  She brought a large pot full of their showy blooms to set on my grandparents porch.  I thought they were so pretty and instantly fell in love with them.

Pansy, A Little Girl's First Love, Acrylic on canvas, 20" x 20"

Pansy, A Little Girl’s First Love, Acrylic on canvas, 20″ x 20″

Now I have many favorite flowers, but pansies will always remind me of being a little girl and the first flower I discovered.  Painting this pansy was such a fun walk down memory lane. The paint just flowed onto my canvas.

I hope you have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell