Janell grew up in a small rural town in the northwestern United States, the youngest in a family who loved gardening, music and the great outdoors. As a teen she sold her violin to buy her first camera and took painting lessons from a local artist. She received a BFA from Southern Oregon State College and then re-located to Los Angeles. Shortly after arriving in Southern California, she met her husband and they have made their home in Altadena, located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Her love of the intimacy of the human face drew her to portraiture early on in her career. A childhood spent exploring the wonders of the forest, started a long time love and respect for the natural environment and its resources. Mithani creates art in photography, oils, pastel, and for the past five years has been exploring wire, water based paints and pigments, bark and wood. She is inspired by the garden that surrounds her studio, the forests and memories of her childhood, protective feelings of motherhood, and the relationship between humans, nature and wildlife. Her most recent series, “Wildish Spirits,” brings a sense of child-like wonder to her contemporary, imaginative art.

Artist Statement
A world of radiant enchantment merged with the lush details of the forest inspires me to create art. Childlike memories of magical beings float through the landscape of my mind and fill my paintings. I reflect on a childhood spent with the Northern California and Oregon forests as my playground. These memories come to life and are central themes in my art. My work examines relationships between nature, animals and people as well as representing a strong protective, nurturing, and feminist awareness. I explore intertwining those thoughts as I work to express myself through my art.