SLAF Program Guide 2019

Program Guide sponsored by Janina Ellis’s life has been full of travel, adventure, and artistic exploration. Shortly after she was born in Seattle, Washington, her family moved overseas to Munich, Germany. As a third-generation artist, Janina has always been surrounded by artistic influences, especially encouragement from her mother, a maritime engraver. Since she was a child, Janina has had an interest in art and loved creating works with all of the art supplies that filled the family china cabinet. Even at a young age, she requested that her mother give her drawing lessons. When Janina became a young adult and worked as an Au pair, her employer encouraged her to sell her work at the Germany Street Art Festival. On the day of the festival, Janina packed up all of her art onto a dolly and rolled it out into the small art fair, where artists simply set up and sold their artwork on easels in the grass. The validation from her success at this festival gave Janina the confidence to become a professional artist. Since then, her art has evolved numerous times as she has transitioned from art as a hobby to a career in painting. During college, Janina explored various mediums, she dabbled in multiple art forms; drawing, fiber, painting, mosaic, etc. Throughout this experimental process, Janina was always drawn back to painting. Later in life, she took a break from painting professionally to focus on her stuides. She attended Akhof, an art school in Munich, Germany, where she pursued drawing and painting with a focus on figurative work. Throughout her journey as professional artist, Janina’s focus has centered on exploring the meaning in the mundane. She incorporates this into her paintings by creating relatable impersonal aspects so others can see themselves within her artwork. To do this, Janina finds spaces that capture her attention such as train stations, crowds, and beaches. Then takes thousands of pictures of the scene. Later, she pulls out the few that strike her, speak to her, or showcase the moment. From there, she selects images from thousands that become the inspiration for her beautiful paintings. Some of Janina’s more recent works feature train stations from her travels. From Grand Central Train Station to the train stations of her hometown, Munich, Janina developed a love for train travel because she appreciates the ability to experience the world around her as she moves from one place to another. Janina says the biggest compliment to her work is others being able to identify with her paintings. She wants them to relate to a person, moment, experience, or journey. Her work is driven by her passion for painting. Janina paints what she loves and enjoys every minute of it saying, Janina Ellis 2019 S A I N T L OU I S A R T F A I R S E P T E M B E R 6 • 7 • 8 2 0 1 9 By: Abbagail Koch & Natalie Stagoski The Commemorative Print with be for sale at the Pop-Up Shop on Central Ave. by Forsyth Blvd. “Painting is the only thing I can do all day everyday.” 2