Ethel's Roses

This painting titled Ethel's Roses is especially meaningful to me. One day last month, my mother spent the afternoon watching me create this piece on my lanai in Venice. She sat for many hours, just being with me. Her praise and encouragement is typical of how my mother has always been with me. This turned out to be one of my favorite paintings. It exudes the love I have for my mother and her love for me. I took a picture of her holding my paintbrush during this wonderful time spent with my mother.

Native Florida Hibiscus

Inspired by the beautiful Hibiscus in and around Venice, Florida. This watercolor was completed today, January 21 2012, one of the prettiest Florida afternoons.

Bridal Bouquet Memories

This commission was a labor of "love" I was asked to create a watercolor of a June 2011 bride's bouquet. What made this so very special is the story behind the story. The stem (holder) of this lovely peony , white rose and calla lily bouquet was tenderly wrapped with two family keepsakes. The first was a beautifully embroidered hankerchief belonging to the bride's grandmother and the second was a Cape Cod logo tie worn frequently by the bride's grandfather. When I was told how special these two persons where to the bride and her family, I decided to incorporate them into the painting. As important as was the representation of this bouquet, the lasting memory of two beloved grandparents became the theme.
I thank the Gallager family for the opportunity of being part of this special gift.

Purple Bouquet 2010

House On The Marsh

My interpretation of a photograph by Peter J Hallett of Hamilton, Massachusetts. This is a view of the marsh in Essex, Massachusetts near the famous Farnham's Clam and Seafood Restaurant. Peter was kind enough to allow me to be inspired by his vision of this beautiful landscape. Thanks, Pete!

Janet's Artist Statement

Janet Miller
A watercolorist and juried member of the Cape Cod Art Association, Falmouth Art Guild and The Venice Art Center of Florida, Janet has been inspired by the beauty of flora and fauna indigenous to Cape Cod and South Florida for twenty-five years. A past member of the Beverly Massachusetts Art Guild, she has studied with award winning, nationally known Cape Ann artists. Her ever-evolving style displays her loving relationship with nature’s play of light and transparency of pigments. Janet’s floral pieces are recognized by her peers as both evocative and provocative.

Why a Blog?

I was encouraged to create this Blog by a very dear friend.
It is a way for me to document and catalogue the works I have created over the last MANY years.
I also hope it will stimulate my artistic "juices" to create more pieces of art.
All my watercolors and oils can be reproduced into lovely 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 Notecards, 5x7 and 8x10 giclees and 6 page calendars displaying images of my original artwork. I hope you like my work.

Holden Home

My neice asked me to create a watercolor of her Mom's home in Western Massachusetts. She and her sisters and brothers grew up here and have many wonderful memories. I dedicate this piece to John Hanks who was a loving member of this wonderful family.

The One Room Schoolhouse

This summer my Minnesota family had the opportunity to visit Mashpee's One Room Schoolhouse (Circa 1839). The tour was given by our dear friend and neighbor Frank Lord. The children were told stories about life in those early years and especially the experiences of schoolchildren of that era. They loved learning about the everyday school experience. They especially had fun sitting at the desks and using the small slate boards customary in those years. The pictures taken capture our family's adventure. This trip also stimulated their curiosity about other stories of this time. My husband and I presented the children (and their parents) with the DVD series "Little House on the Prairie", based on Laura Ingalls wonderful childhood memories. Our grandchildren love to watch these shows and clearly can relate them to their Mashpee schoolhouse visit.

I was motivated by this experience as well and created a watercolor painting of the schoolhouse which I presented to Mr Lord as a thank you for the time he spent with our family.

We try to escape the winter months in New England by heading South to Florida. I am intrigued, however, by the beauty of new fallen snow. This Hamilton Home was inspired from a beautiful photograph taken by Dan Casella. His Tally Ho home was a haven for Rick and me when we returned to visit family and friends on the North Shore of Massachusetts after our move to Cape Cod. Dan & Helene have recently sold their home and have moved to California to be closer to their family. We will miss their lovely home but more accurately will miss them!

I love flowers!! My very first painting was created in 1978 during my first art class taken in Beverly, Massachusetts. Since then, I have painted many varieties of flowers indigenous to New England and Florida, from tulips and hydrangeas to lilies and hibiscus. I find the turn and movement of the petals and leaves fascinating. My color palette reflects the excitement I find in flowers. Hope you enjoy them!

This was my first piece accepted in a Juried Exhibit in Venice, Florida. I was thrilled to be included in the company of so many talented artists. "My Iris" is one of my most popular selling giclees. My inspiration comes from the most beautiful Cape Cod Spring gardens.

"Heavenly Hibiscus" was my first attempt at painting these beautiful tropical flowers. During our winters in Venice, Florida, I try to take art classes at The Venice Art Center. One of my favorite instructors is Barbara Thelen, a Minnesota transplant to the Gulf Coast of Florida. She has taught me so many wonderful watercolor techniques. Her workshops have been invaluable.

This series captures the warmth in the colors and hues of the sunny spots in Florida and Arizona.

The top image is my interpretation of a dramatic Gulf Coast sunset. You never get tired of looking at it.

The second image is a "Largo Back Yard" My niece Debbie and her beautiful family see this great view every morning and every night. My watercolor does not completely capture the wonderful graden Debbie has created, but I hope you get a sense of what a truly peaceful spot this is.

"Key West Plantation" was created in a Watercolor class given by Barbara Thelen in Venice, Florida. She supplied a template and we the students created our images. A real fun experiment"!

"The Birds of Venice" is the view from our lanai at the Venetian Golf and River Club in Venice, Florida. Check out the "little guy" in the lower center of the image.

One of the beautiful golf courses in the Mountains of Arizona. I forget the name of the course, but it was truly a challenge to pkay and paint.

November 15, 2009 8:32 PM

Two views of one of my favortite places in the world,Venice, Italy. This waterway was hidden between buildings and was an adventure to find. I liked it because it wasn't the typical Venice view. The sepia interpretation is on of my best sellers.

Two views of another beautiful town in the Tuscan Hills of Italy, San Gimangnano. My watercolor was inspired by a beautiful photograph by Peter Hallett of Hamilton, Massachusetts. I did a bit of Photoshop "tweaking" to get a different look.

This series was my initiation into the use of India Inks. The free-flowing quality of these pigments lend themselves to my style of painting. I look forward to more experimentation in this medium.

Boca Grande

Boca Grande, Florida is the most beautiful paradise on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Every view is a photo opportunity and an artist's pure delight. My plan this winter is to do more studies of this wonderful place. Look for additions to my Boca Grande series. I can hardly wait to get there.

Janet Miller
A watercolorist and juried member of the Cape Cod Art Association, Falmouth Art Guild and The Venice Art Center of Florida, Janet has been inspired by the beauty of flora and fauna indigenous to Cape Cod and South Florida for twenty-five years. A past member of the Beverly Massachusetts Art Guild, she has studied with award winning, nationally known Cape Ann artists. Her ever-evolving style displays her loving relationship with nature’s play of light and transparency of pigments. Janet’s floral pieces are recognized by her peers as both evocative and provocative.

I was encouraged to create this Blog by a very dear friend.
It is a way for me to document and catalogue the works I have created over the last MANY years.
I also hope it will stimulate my artistic "juices" to create more pieces of art.
All my watercolors and oils can be reproduced into lovely 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 Notecards, 5x7 and 8x10 giclees and 6 page calendars displaying images of my original artwork. I hope you like my work.