Meet Janet

Janet Berg is an illustrator, writer, photographer and my beautiful mom. She gave me a joyful childhood filled with art and music as she incorporated creativity into my daily life.

After I grew up, I learned not everyone’s mom can draw a realistic yet playful fawn while sitting in a pickup on the side of the road. Not every family sings “You’re a Grand Old Flag” at the top of their lungs on road trips. She didn’t do these things for herself, she did them for me. She taught me to be true to my authentic self, to be honest, expressive and emotional because that is who I am. Little did I know, she was fostering my creative soul.

My mom is the artist behind the illustrations in my 2011 baby and kid collection. Her whimsical illustrations are universally appealing. Below is a birth announcement with her bestselling giraffes. Aren’t they sweet?

For more from my mom, please visit her blog, The Learning Curve. There she posts photography and illustrations. You can see her artistic talents in action each week in my weekly Drawing Lab challenge.

I’m proud to introduce my mom, Janet Berg – illustrator, photographer, writer and the famous Gramma Mim.

Please give us a brief bio.

I grew up in southern California and have been a resident of Sparks/Reno since 1974. I have one husband, two amazing, amazing daughters, and two beautiful grandchildren (who are geniuses).

When did you first discover your creative talent?

That’s an ongoing journey, isn’t it? My first recollection of things creative is finger painting in Mrs. Black’s kindergarten class, but when I search my memory for early creative endeavors, I see colors: a blue robin’s egg, a red cement porch, a green pepper tree.

What medium(s) do you work in?

Tongue in cheek, I will say I work with the human form. Consciously or subconsciously, creativity finds its way into in all aspects of my life…from staying married to one man for forty years (my most challenging creative achievement to date!), to raising children, to surviving breast cancer. Being an editor at heart, I’ve been known to make words bleed. Halloween is BIG in our house and a collaborative effort; I contribute the sewing. Currently I take photographs with a Nikon D7000 and draw illustrations for AngieAllen.com using Illustrator and a mouse.

Please include a piece you are particularly proud of and tell us why:

I have always been particularly fond of this photograph for a number of reasons. Taken from inside a trolley car in San Francisco, the framing of the building by the trolley window emphasizes the geometric elements of the scene and the low crop of the doorway screams “Low Apartments.” I have an affinity for pieces of the whole, and this photograph hit the mark.

How has your style evolved over time?

I don’t believe styles evolve, but rather are revealed. When you are sympathetic to the world around you as Melanie was as a child, or are born with music in your soul, as Angie was, those things manifest themselves in your style. I thoroughly enjoy watching biographical movies about artists; I never cease to come away with admiration for their work as a reflection of who they are. I can only surmise the same is true for me.

What inspires or motivates you?

I am inspired by nature.