Janette Ihnatova Dengo, born in Slovak Republic, Europe in 1973 who is a four times published illustrator, freelance writer and journalist, photographer, award winning poet and an award winning artist.
I came to Canada in 1986 after living in Austria for over 6 months, spending all of my youth and pre-teens in Slovakia. When I arrived to this wonder-filled country full of dreams, possibilities and most importantly FREEDOM, my entire life changed. Little did I know this at the time with the obstacles and challenges and learning a new language, that I would have so many wonderful ventures in my life and be a part of the universe in such a contributing and rewarding way. The next thirteen years were filled with numerous part-time jobs while finishing high school receiving my OSSD and a year later pursuing a college degree in General Business. I’m glad I made the choice for business as it has taught me how to succeed at Entrepreneurship while providing me with courage to achieve what I have thus far.
I became an entrepreneur in 1999 and the story of how it happened feels surreal even to this day. It just shows me that everything in life happens for a reason. It began with a car accident where my vehicle became a total write off while I had to undergo an intense 3-month physiotherapy. A lot has happened to me in the course of 5 months that followed and one of those was quitting my job while getting married. In the mid summer I decided to venture off into a field unknown to me and became a desktop publisher while I played and experimented back into the art field. I loved everything about designing and took on other side projects such as designing and implementing my own current website, began painting and illustrating again, illustrated and published a series of books with a high school friend, and few more creative channels.
In the early part of 2007 I began opening and designing multiple online galleries and stores, where my artwork and designs are now displayed, viewed and purchased. Art and writing is my life and love, which is my everyday living and breathing. Writing is not just a profession it is part of my daily adventure and it is a passion.
Please visit an INTERVIEW with 1st Angel for a thorough look at my art history and origin, present achievements along with future goals and plans.
Some of my earlier pieces were simple pencil illustrations, though to my art teacher they were glorious works of art. My art teacher Mr. Polman who was a fantastic person/artist, has later in life became my mentor. Little did he know this of course that his encouraging words of praise have echoed in my thoughts and visions for over 20 years until this day even though he's long gone now into the light. He persistently sent my art to our local gallery from which I did get many of my drawings back. As for my paintings, they were hung in our local Glenhurst Gallery and I haven't seen them since.
Before I discovered I could write, I mostly focussed on expressing myself by means of painting, illustrating, photography and digital imaging. I always loved to write and found myself to be a thinker and am to this day. Stories and poems were always in my mind and thoughts, I just had no way of expressing them in writing of constructed poetic format the way I perhaps could in colour on canvas or through the lens of my camera with digital augmentation. Many times I felt as if I was in this timeless bubble and one day it would pop. When the writing bubble I was in busted, all my creative writing began flowing within my veins like gentle streams in river bends, who soon became full flowing rivers.
All my poems and articles are published at my present primary publishing site for writers called HELIUM. It feels so wonderful to write whenever I am inspired by life and daily events knowing and feeling assured my work is protected by copyright by a professional site. I also love the fact I am compensated and rewarded for what I call my passion. Aside from being an artist, writer and romantic I always reach and explore beyond the limits of the obvious. Mostly I am a lover of life and mankind. I enjoy observing people and nature as I sense the essence of life on many levels and dimensions.
