Biography

I have always had a fascination with studying things. I would lay close to the ground, for hours looking at the blades of tall grass in my yard, pretending I was in a far off place, a jungle, on an expedition through the wild. I would watch ants go about their daily tasks of searching for food suitable to return home with. Bees collecting pollen from the abundant flowering gardens my mom created every spring or watch the hundreds of sulphurs flit around looking for their perfect mate in a spiraling dance. If I was in town, I would go with my mom to the market on Saturdays and watch the vendors selling their goods, listening to their deal-making and watching the expressions on their faces to furthur the sense of slight despiration. I tended to let the world around me slow down enough to enjoy it and appreciate the beauty and delicacy of nature.

I found school years to be a very tumultuous time in my life... Both psychologically and socially draining. I tried my best to remain un-noticed whilst in the spiteful angst-filled realm surrounding me. High school was raught with frustration and confusion, for the beautiful world I once studied as a child, disappeared, being replaced with a harsh, judgemental, close-minded rip tide. Every summer I would struggle to the surface again for a breath of the real air, in the unfrequented parts within the natural parks of Owen Sound, Ontario, just to be sucked back under every Autumn for another year of torture within and without.

Was this going to be the new world I would now have to accept as real?, Was the beauty of my simplistic world lost? This was the time in my life that I fell into a crippling transition. I could no longer deal with the dire falsity with which this new world was governed. I let the black hole of negativity surround me and suck out all the positive left inside. It consumed me, my delicate light had fallen into shadows. It was suddenly a dark time. At this time my art hobby, became my crutch. Art was a way in which I could remove myself from this existance and transform myself into another. The doctors said I had a seratonin deficiancy and my brain couldn't counter the maletonin that was being produced. But inside, I could feel (and still feel to this day) a karmic debt heavy on my soul, one that has been passed down through generations and now I am trying to relinquish it, so as to not burden this family's future generations> I try to give as much as I can, and support those that are in need. I try to twist someones negative day into a positive one, and at the very least get a smile out of them. I hope to bring brightness into the world with my creations.

It took almost seven years (and several different medications) for me to start seeing the light and enjoying life again. My art took several twists and turns as I tried new techniques, new mediums and had a new outlook on life. I also got armed with my mothers old Minolta camera, and learned classical photography. I love photography for different reasons than my art, but they are both amazing outlets for me and my dreams.

Now I try to keep myself busy with new projects and creative outlets to let the inner light flow from within me through to other souls seeking it. I try not to allow my creative powers to get blocked, therefore I always have materials at hand to allow the natural ebb and flow do their wonders.

I enjoy illustrating whimsical, fanciful, spiritual, and natural world as well as sketching the active world in some fringe sports. In my photography I love native critters in their natural surroundings, outdoor scenery, some sports and people when I'm traveling. I also like abstract nature photography. My latest project is creating my own childrens book, but this will be a slower ongoing project.

I've illustrated for Rainforest Publications, the butterflies of Costa Rica, The butterflies of Mexico, The butterflies of Belize, and Belize reef dive guide.

I also create acrylic and oil abstract natural paintings. However all my illustrations for cards and such, are created using artists gouache.

I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

I hope you enjoy my work.

Jannah