Hi, I’m Janell and I am an illustrator and art educator!  I grew up believing that there was absolute magic in creating something and never stopped feeling or believing that. Whether it is a drawing, painting, or picking and putting together a bouquet of wildflowers, my passion is to create and share that experience with others. After growing up in rural upstate New York, I moved to Buffalo and attended Daemen College to obtain my BFA in Illustration. Shoveling snow quickly became my most hated adult life past time, and I relocated here to the wild west of Arizona in 2003.

During the last 11 years, I have had the pleasure of teaching art in grades K-12 both in person and online. I have also had the opportunity to create my own YouTube channel that focuses on creating with my family while we are out and about on various adventures, and I have given many private lessons in my home and online. I love the thrill of developing a great character through art, and am a children’s book illustrator. I just had my second book published, and I am working on my 3rd. If you love dancing lambs, boy do I have a recommendation for you!

When I am not teaching you will find me out trail running or exploring with my husband Kevin, or on a road trip with the entire family, which includes my two daughters and sweet dog, Birdie June. I also cannot resist a great run to the thrift store, antique shop, or even the nearest garden center!