Janiewc Art & Design

10/22/2025

Speaking art history-wise, this scathing, hilarious, but totally accurate, depiction of the gilded Oval Office is a wonderful writing on the history of Rococo design. Very witty. Very true.

Is this really us?

10/19/2025

It’s been a while since I checked in. I’m still teaching students, but I have been focusing most of my time on building a henhouse. I started early June and we’re finishing up in mid October. Did I know it would take this long? Absolutely not. I’ve learned so much though. I will post photos as soon as it’s finished. I have five lovely buff Orpington chickens.

06/19/2024

My private students and I are exploring Watercolor. I have created in watercolor since I was eight years old, but I hadn’t really painted in it after high school. I am returning to my roots. My students are learning brush techniques for additive processes.

We are limiting our brush sizes to Royal & Langenickel Zen 83 series brushes: an MD 24 wash brush, a 1/2 inch flat, a round 12, a round 6, and a 10/0 detail brush on cold press watercolor paper. Since this is only student level instruction, we are using tray watercolors rather than tube.

Eventually, we will do large watercolor paintings together, but right now we’re just painting objects to build three dimensionality. We’re having fun! And if it’s not fun, don’t do it.

04/20/2024

My husband and I went to Spring Art scene 2024 tonight and decided to stop in at The McPherson at 1210 Buchanan Street, just off Morgan Street on the west side of the bridge. What a wonderful place! Very eclectic, very friendly, lots of different kinds of people to talk to and see their creations. They will be open at noon on Saturday, April 20. They have a lot of bands. I definitely recommend it.

04/01/2024

The art class lesson this week was baking 6” mini-cakes from scratch. My daughter, Elizabeth, assisted.

03/22/2024

I will be at a two hour art exhibition tomorrow , Saturday, March 23 at Midway Village, featuring local women artists, which I happen to be both.

My seven 24x48” grand dames of American women’s voting rights will be on display along with several various types of paintings that I’ve been working on or teaching. It’s only for two hours. I hope to see you there!

https://www.facebook.com/670464819/posts/10161337102604820/?

03/12/2024

She is between the lines. Of course, the lines are way too close together. 

03/04/2024

My friend, Maria Palmeri, was curious about pour painting. I invited her to my studio and treated her to an acrylic pour painting session. The colors that she chose turned out lovely. I have now clear-coated it and it is ready to display. It is 16 X 20” canvas.

03/04/2024

My 11-year-old student and I have been working with resin for the past six months. We have made our own molds, and tried several techniques. We have been learning together, and it has been a blast! She made these beautiful poured coasters with iridescent colored powder and glitter. I am so proud of the way that she’s been learning new media and handling the materials. Last week she learned how to trim edges using a Dremel. She now knows that life is better with power tools! 

03/04/2024

I had a fantastic time teaching a painting class with the wonderful ladies of the Apostolic Christian Church of Belvidere and their guests from around the country this morning, Monday, March 4, 2024! We painted an acrylic wash landscape with a Bible verse from Psalm 61:2. All 15 participants were novice artists, but they did a wonderful job. I adored being with them! Great thanks to my two assistants, my daughter, Elizabeth Cook, and friend, Patricia Kenney. I couldn’t have done it without them. Thank you so much Shayla Steffen, for letting me spend time with your sisters, and allowing me to share my love of art!