Welcome, and thank you for visiting my shop!

My name is Janet Nechama Miller. I am an artist and teacher in Seattle, WA, where I was born and raised. In addition to creating my artwork, I teach workshops on mixed-media encaustic painting, collage, and bookbinding. I'm also a visual art teacher for Seattle Public Schools. I first discovered my love of teaching through my work with the anti-violence organization Home Alive, with which I've taught self-defense and boundary setting since 2001. I love to learn and share skills!

As an artist, teacher, and community member, I feel moved to engage in social justice and anti-violence work. I strive to be a part of and contribute to movements that work to build safer communities at home and beyond. This work drives me to both share my stories through my own artwork, and to encourage others to share their experiences, memories and dreams through a creative process.

I create my paintings with beeswax, oil paint, graphite, and found materials. These materials include used maps, salvaged books, letters, flyers, doodles, and various items I find on the ground or am given. These saved and rescued scraps are a tangible recollection of experiences I have had, which build on each other to create an endless, constantly changing story.

My painting process involves many steps. I begin by layering beeswax and collage materials, creating a surface filled with semi-hidden stories and memories. Then, I use handmade transfer paper and my beloved sharp tool to draw lines. I cannot see these lines until I remove the transfer paper. After that, I work with what I have intuitively created by adding layers upon layers of wax, paper, and oil paint.

My artwork is directly inspired by experiences I have had, questions I have asked, and stories that I have witnessed and been told while immersing myself in education & struggles for social justice.

I am amazed and inspired by the incredible amount of resiliency people have in the face of tragedy and oppression. And I see, again and again, that art is an essential tool for building communities of mutual respect and understanding.

I love what I do and I feel grateful that I am involved in work that allows me to continuously grow and learn, and to build on what I discover by taking risks and trying new things. I have an amazing amount of support from incredible people around me. Every bit of help, advice, and encouragement has been absolutely critical in allowing me to continue doing what I do. I appreciate all of it, enormously.

Please get in touch with me if you are interested in attending a workshop, arranging a studio visit, or purchasing artwork. Inquiries of any kind are also welcome!