About Janet


 "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was." - Richard L. Evans
"No one can go back and make a brand new start, my friend, but anyone can start from here and make a brand new end." - Dan Zandra
"It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere." - Agnes Repplier

I am a 4th generation Californian relocated to Illinois, with a passion for art. My artistic ability was undiscovered until I traveled around the world for 2 1/2 years, experiencing other cultures and visiting museums showcasing the masters, after dropping out of my first year of college. Upon my return to America I eventually completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design with a concentration in Illustration from San Jose State University, by working my way through (since my dad took college away for dropping out of school). After graduation I pursued a career in logo design, illustration and marketing, running my own business. However, at some point life got in the way. I lost design/art for over ten years.

Then on Christmas Day of 2014 I discovered it was not lost and that creativity does not dissipate with time, when I started hand-painting art on my new tablet. Now, the passion is back and I express myself in many directions, creating digital paintings and fine art, in the form of canvas acrylic paintings. I have begun a series of small acrylic paintings. This series is titled "Liten Kunst," (Small art, in Norwegian) to celebrate my recent news of my heritage.

Living my entire life as an adopted person with no knowledge of my ancestry, I did my best to fit in and felt extremely loved by my adopted family. However, there was always a deep-seeded insecurity of feeling like an impostor, since I knew I  did not actually have the same biological roots as my family. I had a hole inside that could never be filled. Recently I had my genetics analyzed and discovered that I am 51% Norwegian, 24% Swedish, 18% English and Welsh, and 7% Irish and Scottish. I now know my own roots, and perhaps my love of the ocean and propensity for adventure stems from my ancestors from Vestlandet, Norway, a southern coastal region in Norway.

I no longer have to fake it any longer. I am mostly Scandinavian, and I can feel proud of my roots, like everyone else. Perhaps a little Viking blood? No one else in my family had any Scandinavian heritage, so this was quite a shock for me. Never again will my reply to the question of what my ancestry is be: Well, I'm adopted, so I have no idea.

I am inspired by the majesty and the exquisite balance of nature; especially bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean (the California coastline near where I grew up in Los Altos, being my favorite), Lake Michigan, sunsets and sunrises, reflections and things that are intriguing, beautiful and eye-catching. My style has evolved through the years and blends my love of nature with a bold, graphic style. We are all unique with our own original perspectives which should be embraced. A special thanks to those awesome people who have given me encouragement and support along the way, especially my family. I am Janet and these are my creations. All my art is signed as Latshaw, which is my maiden name. Please like my Facebook page and let me know if you have a question. Thanks!!

The artist behind the work

Shown in my garage/studio, after completing my first in the series of large 6'/3'/1 1/2" canvases, in 2017.
After starting my acrylic paintings berets magically began appearing on my head
I look totally different in every photo. Different angles. Who am I? 
Once discovering that I was 75% Scandinavian, my hair suddenly turned platinum. What??