Following your dreams: The Janabeancreations story

I did not think that I would become an artist this late in life. In fact, this was the furthest thing from my mind when I first came to Canada in 2015.

My daughter, son and I enjoying a concert in London ON

Navigating Life's Challenges: A Journey Through Adversity

My mind was on survival. My now ex-husband experienced end stage renal failure due to Type 1 diabetes so I became the sole breadwinner for my family. At one point, I was working 3 part time jobs while ensuring my kids were fed, got to school on time and assisting my very ill husband. All this while my mother was battling Stage 3 cervical cancer back in Trinidad. That was one of the darkest periods in my life.

When my mother died in 2016, I took a long hard look at my life. My mother was a huge influence in my life. There were three things that were important to her. God, her three children and teaching in that order. She was a natural teacher. My grandmother said that Mom lined up her dolls and teddy bears and teach them when she was a little girl. That was her gift and she devoted her entire life into becoming one of the best elementary teachers in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). People from all over T&T sent their children to be taught by her. There were close to 1,000 people at her funeral, evidence of all the lives she touched primarily by being anamazing teacher.

I thought if I could be half as good at anything as my mother was at teaching, I would make her proud. My gift was not teaching however. The thing that I did from the time I was a little girl was draw. One of my earliest memories was drawing a little black and white stuffed Dalmatian dog on a huge roll of printer paper in my parents' small apartment in St. Augustine. Even at four years old, drawing was an escape from the violent fights that took place between my parents.

I continued drawing in elementary school all the way up to high school, though not without strong opposition from my mother who was now a single parent after my dad took all their savings and left her with 3 kids the oldest of which (me!) was 4 at the time. She only wanted the best for me and given our precarious financial situation, she wanted me to have a stable secure career. I didn't have the words then to explain what art meant to me. And I craved her approval. So I followed the pathway of STEM for University and held various jobs for several years. I sort of meandered through life, putting rt on the back burner in deference to being a mother and keeping whatever job I had at the time.

Rediscovering My True Self Through Art

When I reflected on my life after Mom's passing, I realized the thing that made me feel the most like myself was art. By 2017 I had enough. I decided to begin creating again. I experimented with acrylics, watercolour, pencils, oil pastels and soft pastels. I initially focused on landscapes and flowers. Then a coworker told me about her dog Maddie and how much she missed her. So I drew Maddie using dollar store pastels for her. She loved it! Even though I look back at this and cringe, I remember feeling so proud of making art that someone loved.

My first pet portrait Maddie

My first pet portrait of Golden Retriever Maddie using dollar store pastels.

Then more coworkers asked for portraits of their pets. I really wanted to improve so I watched dozens of Youtube videos, read books and pored over animal portrait websites to see how I could improve my technique. I joined the London Community of Artists so that I could learn from fellow local artists. I also joined the Pastel Artists of Canada which really helped me improve my skills through their workshops with pastel artists from all over the globe. I invested in high end pastels and pastel pencils from Faber Castell and premium pastel paper so that I could achieve greater levels of realism and offer better quality to my customers.

From Requests to Reality: Launching Janabeancreations

I started getting enough requests to open an Etsy shop. As my portrait options grew, I took the leap and got my own domain name - Janabeancreations - after my ex-husband's nickname for me. I expanded my product offerings to include multi pet commissions, graphite options and human portraits. I also created several wildlife collections all with a focus on pastel.

Teryn and Dexter

One of my graphite commissions featuring a pet and his owner

One of my pieces - True Love -was accepted in the 2022 Annual Pastel Artists of Canada exhibition - which for me was a huge deal because it meant my art was being recognized at a national level.

True Love - my first piece accepted in a National show

True Love - accepted for display at the Pastel Artists of Canada annual exhibition 2022.

I also won a Judge's choice ribbon in 2025 in the annual London Community Artists fall show which again was much needed external validation that I was an ARTIST.

Enjoying the Sunshine

This portrait of a palm warbler was awarded a Judge's choice ribbon at the 2025 annual London Community Artists fall art show

I look back at the past few years in awe. As I said in the beginning, I never thought that I would draw again let alone start an art business. I often wonder if Mom is looking down at me from Heaven with approval. I still have a long way to go and many more milestones (I hope!) ahead to achieve with the help of my customers and supporters. So excited to find out what lies ahead for Janabeancreations!

Interested in getting a Custom Commission?

If after hearing my story, you’re thinking about ordering a custom portrait , here are some tips to make the experience smooth and enjoyable:

1. Choose your reference photos carefully: Clear, high-quality photos that show your pet or subject’s personality will help me create a more accurate and expressive portrait.

2. Communicate your vision: Don’t hesitate to share your ideas about poses, backgrounds, or special details you want included.

3. Ask questions: I'm here to help! If you’re unsure about sizes, framing options, or timelines, just ask.

4. Be patient: Creating hyperrealist art takes time, but the wait is worth it for a piece that truly captures the essence of your subject.

5. Consider gifting: Custom portraits make heartfelt gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or memorials.

   
   

By following these steps, you’ll ensure your commission is exactly what you hoped for and maybe even more!

Added bonus for Mother's Day!

Get 25% off full face human pastel portraits until March 31 2026 with code ILOVEMOM2026. Check out promotion here

I hope this glimpse into Janabeancreations inspires confidence and excitement in you about exploring custom art. Owning a piece of art that resonates with your heart and narrates your story is truly special. Enjoy the commissioning process!