Janet Takahashi is a freelance artist specializing in calligraphy, illustration, bookbinding, sign painting, and gilding. A zoologist and self-taught illustrator, she is an avid journal keeper and illustrator for books and magazines (including Romantic Homes and the Los Angeles Times). She has taught calligraphy at Santa Monica College and sign graphics at LA Trade Tech College. Janet used to be the head of sign restoration at Fine Gold Sign Company. At one time, her primary job included gilding interior spaces and yachts while hanging upside-down over the water. She is the current artist-in-residence for Yosemite National Park, and conducts online and in-person workshops on artful journaling and calligraphy and most recently in Greece. She is also a certified creativity coach.