Janae was 8 when her mom passed away and she discovered art as a way to grieve and heal.
“I drew my feelings. I have always turned to art to express my emotions, whether that’s through colors, poetry, writing or music, but mostly, I drew a lot.”
With art as a touchstone, Janae persevered through a dysfunctional guardianship and started college at San Diego State University where she worked toward her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in art. She also found Just in Time.
Through JIT’s mental wellness service, Janae was invited to participate in an art workshop facilitated by volunteers from the San Diego Water Color Society (SDWS) to paint abstract animals. Drawing inspiration from her dreams, Janae skillfully coaxed a vivid blue elephant from the canvas. Later, her piece would hang in a dedicated art show for JIT participants at the SDWS Gallery.
“When I was a little girl, I used to write down things I wanted to do. One was to have my art hang in an art gallery.”
Janae’s piece sold the day of the art opening.
“Seeing my art hung on the wall felt like a dream come true. It felt like all my hard work had paid off. I felt worthy and like I could do anything I put my mind to.”
Since the art show, Janae has become even more connected to SDWS where she continues to take workshops and was gifted an extended membership that will enable her to show her work at future shows.
