Janelle Carter Art

06/09/2026

Hi friends,

Sharing with you details about my annual design hour sale.
Hours are at a reduced rate, and can be used for illustration, graphic design, web updates, brand development, signage, product design, sticker art, and more.

I’m pretty much word of mouth. I love my design clients— supporting and collaborating on their dreams. It’s a journey we take together.

These are wild times, where industries and ways we support ourselves are changing so fast. Branding is one of my strengths and passions. I don’t usually offer hourly rates for this since it’s such an in-depth process, but if you’d like help conceptualizing and launching a new direction for yourself, I’d love to help if visual branding is something you need help with.

Please reach out with questions.
XOXO

05/20/2026

Artists log, painting Day 20+ something in row. Install date for this public art piece now happily moved for the 3rd time. I’ve become even stranger in my isolation, I let the breakthroughs of the past few months shift land throughout my whole being with the gift of being so removed, so liminal for the past few weeks.

I remembered how much I absolutely love painting. I got to reclaim something really special that I thought that was lost, a dream I convinced myself I couldn’t have. Every day, I was almost crying with gratitude that I got to do this, paint all day. Let whatever is coming through, come through. Let it be easy, let it be true.

I really do believe— this is the time where we have nothing left to lose. Our truths—now is the time to live them fully, without fear. Our liberation—is in our hands.

I’m not allowed to show the painting or the process, and I was like… WHOO HOOO! I get to be even more private, reverent, alone with this?? Thank you. But here are some sneak peaks. I turned my backyard space into an art studio… not a bad way to spend our San Diego days.

I will emerge soon!

04/23/2026

💚 Happy Earth Day.

She's been here long before us. She'll find her way back.

"Home" — Pen and Ink, Digitally Colored.

04/15/2026

I walked into the Words Alive warehouse in September 2023 and was asked: what would you do with this space?

I walked in as an artist, and walked out 2.5 years later as a creative director.

What happened in between was messier and richer than I expected. Ordering four 8’x8’ canvases and wondering if they'd actually fit through the door. The Words Alive team painting alongside me. Months of concepting and planning, then watching it slowly become real. A front row seat to what it actually takes to keep an organization alive.

I'm grateful for the education. For the work Words Alive does in the world. For what I now know I'm capable of.

Chapter closed. ✓

04/10/2026

My newest illustration emerged by drawing through the transition. The colors arose from the dawn light pouring into my kitchen window, and the story of everything it takes to make a change. Here's to new beginnings, the cresting of the mountain.

"Hello New Life"
Prints available — Comment/DM or email [email protected]
❤

04/04/2026

04/04/2026

The light in my kitchen at sunrise takes my breath away every morning. The window faces the east, I see the sun peaking over the mountains, and I always think - wow this is my new life. It’s been quite a month, the first month getting settled here.

Favorite things—
Not cooking or planning sometimes.
Leo enjoying his new bedroom.
Random nights out, and there are people and families (Blind Lady). Caught an amazing band too.
Coffee shops with local art on the walls.
Writing or creating in my kitchen at random times of the morning and night.
Catching the moon, and the sunrise, and the sunset— all from my door step.

01/16/2026

I’ve been calling myself an emo poet lately, because there lays a backlog of bad poetry that’s been begging to get out. I’ve been writing for years and years, and through the maze of my human things, I’ve not been confident enough to share it. Sensitivity is a bitch. It’s necessary to feel and actualize these things, but then it’s been making me retreat farther and father into a hidey hole. I’ve had a rough few months. My tender heart was used against me, my capacity to dream and envision with the other too. I licked my wounds, and I wrote. I always write.

Now, I want to share again.

Because I FINALLY got to the place where art, creation, living, everything was for me again. Where it all started. I feel weird saying that, as we are “supposed to be in service,” or whatever, but as an artist, as the being that I believe I was put on this planet to be, I have to express for myself first. I have to let the art and words come through, seen by me, felt and resonate with me, as true. Then it’s easy to release, because I’m already filled up. They exist to exist, and maybe touch a mind and heart or two, or not… but that’s the artistic process. This is where the sensitivity must stop.

In a round about way, I’m excited to announce the launch of my Substack— On My Way To Empty. It’s about the journey of getting lighter and lighter, freer and freer, self liberation in its messiest, realest form.

I hope you join me there

01/01/2026

2025. What a year to remember.

There’s something kind of beautiful when there’s a collective experience of year. A lot of what I’ve been reading is 2025 was a - “what the f**k was that” - kind of year. This being the year of the wood snake, I can’t believe I hadn’t drawn one yet—

I just find myself feeling tired, but happy I got to honor and close out this year with art.

To honor the skin we shed. Our deepest protections, identities, gifts, and relationships.

The loss.

I also find myself feeling melancholy tonight— a bittersweet acceptance of the changes.

My 2025 swept me away. I got chewed up and spit out. I’ve spent the last few weeks in deep healing, restoration, just trying to get my creative fire and inspiration back. I lost sight of me, and my dreams. BUT, I feel grateful that I was shown what I was shown.

…….. it was preparing me for next year. For the rest of my life. To say, my dreams matter. My art matters. My voice does too. It’s Ok to center myself in my own life.
It’s sad that this was the deepest truth that was so hard to grasp.

I will hold this feeling in my heart for 2025.
Thank you.
Thank you 2025 for getting me where I needed to go.

Now,
Goodbye.

XXOXO Wishing you the most radiant new chapter ahead.
If you are interested in a print,
Please message me your interest—
I would love to help you remember and harness the difficult, yet unbelievable magic, of this year.

11/18/2025

I'm clearing space in many ways.
Help me find new homes from some original paintings, drawings, prints, and small fun things.
DM your interest!
Shipping available, local pick up/delivery to San Diego. And you'll get a visit from me! Thank you for your interest and support ❤️