1257 Southford Road, Southbury, CT, USA
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About Me
My Background
My Background
Janelle Chandler is an illustrator based in New Haven County, CT. She earned a BA in Illustration with a minor in Photography in 2019. In 2022 she earned her MFA in Illustration, both from Western Connecticut State University. In 2024 where she is now employed. She also earned a diploma from the Society of Botanical Artis
My Background
Janelle Chandler is an illustrator based in New Haven County, CT. She earned a BA in Illustration with a minor in Photography in 2019. In 2022 she earned her MFA in Illustration, both from Western Connecticut State University. In 2024 where she is now employed. She also earned a diploma from the Society of Botanical Artists Distance Diploma Program, United Kingdom.
Inspired by the beauty of nature and botanicals, she translates her subjects onto paper, working primarily with colored pencils and watercolor. In her artist statement, she writes, “In nature, we have the opportunity to experience any color imaginable, and there is never a shortage of shapes, textures, compositions, and even mathematical formulas to work from”. Janelle is a member of several artist organizations, including American Botanical Society of Artists, Society of Botanical Artists UK, the Colored Pencil Society of America and is the Regional Coordinator for the New England chapter of the CPSA.. Janelle regularly exhibits her work in New York and Connecticut. In 2025, her work was selected for an international juried exhibition at Mall Galleries in London, England.
My Medium
I use many different mediums, such as graphite, colored pencil, fabric, watercolor, film, oil... I could go on endlessly. I believe that working in a single medium is restrictive to my artistic process.
I have had phases in each medium and even integrated them from time to time. I enjoy the experimentation process, finding what makes my h
I use many different mediums, such as graphite, colored pencil, fabric, watercolor, film, oil... I could go on endlessly. I believe that working in a single medium is restrictive to my artistic process.
I have had phases in each medium and even integrated them from time to time. I enjoy the experimentation process, finding what makes my heart sing. Each idea manifests in its own individual style.
Currently I am enjoying working in colored pencil and watercolor for my botanical pieces, and have been experimenting with medium format cameras for Photography work.
My Inspiration
My Inspiration
I have enjoyed the outdoors for as long as I can remember; earliest memories include hiking out to the creek with my Dad to play with water bugs and pick blackberries at the age of six. I was always outside finding something to get into.
As I grew I often found myself drawing things in nature, pine cones, leaves, etc. Painting landscapes,
I have enjoyed the outdoors for as long as I can remember; earliest memories include hiking out to the creek with my Dad to play with water bugs and pick blackberries at the age of six. I was always outside finding something to get into.
As I grew I often found myself drawing things in nature, pine cones, leaves, etc. Painting landscapes, and eventually photographing all that there is in nature. I love to be by water and often go hiking to finding the things that you don't see everyday, from angles or perspectives not always utilized.
From these experiences I have found that I often notice light patterns before anything else in my surroundings, and it is in that space I feel the most creativity and inspirations. Many of my pieces (if not all) are directly influenced by these hikes and wanderings outdoors (gardens included!). I thoroughly enjoy illustrating and painting plants and wildlife with great accuracy and precision in my work.