Hi, I'm Janet Danforth! I live in Durham North Carolina with my partner and our five cats. I've spent most of my adult life in the southeastern US while I grew up in upstate New York. I’ve been drawing ever since I was a small child with marker-stained hands. I draw everything from animals and food for wall art to interfaces and diagrams for data-dense applications in the corporate world. This love of drawing led me to art school where I received my BFA in graphic design from Savannah College of Art and Design. I also have a masters in information science from North Carolina Central University.
Statement
I'm an illustrator who loves expressive drawing with color, texture and depth. Animals, food and paisley are my favorite things to draw. My work shows the beauty of the world even when life is a struggle. It's a reminder to look for silver linings on dark clouds.
I still start my work on paper with a mechanical pencil or a rollerball pen even if I'm working digitally. (Please don’t give me a ballpoint pen.) Sketching is a big part of my thinking. Sometimes I draw from photos, sometimes from real-life. Other times, I draw from my imagination. I use my own reference images whenever possible.
I’ve always been curious about the world and how things work. I’m constantly learning new things and picking up new hobbies and skills quickly. I love travelling to new places. My travels inspire my work from the animals I’ve met to the cultures I’ve experienced. I read. A lot! I investigate what other options people are working with in similar spaces and beyond. All of this knowledge informs what ideas and concepts I experiment with.
I work in many mediums:
✏️ pen, pencil and marker
🖍️ oil pastel
✂️ mixed media collage
🖌️ watercolor, oil and acrylic
🕯️ encaustic wax paint
💻 digital vectors and pixels
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