Work together

Whether you’re an established artist or an aspiring creative, many of us have encountered obstacles—perhaps a creative block after past successes, or disruptions in our practice due to life changes like family, relationships, careers, or health. Or, maybe you’ve simply depleted your resources and need assistance charting a new course. Regardless of the cause of your stagnation, our collaboration aims to realign you with the fulfilling work you love and channel that energy into a more meaningful life.

My method is holistic. I view creative practice as integral to our pursuit of balance, prosperity, happiness, and well-being. In our journey, we focus on principles, not rules. Rules apply to a system which is static—and neither life nor the creative flow are static. Principles are constant, but can be adapted to changing situations—and life is nothing if not constant change!

I'm also pragmatic and action-focused. With 20 years of experience assisting leaders and their teams across various organizations to develop the skills and habits necessary for achieving their objectives, I now bring this expertise to individual creatives like you. My goal is to help you manifest your vision and talents tangibly, creating value for yourself and others. Our sessions are designed to be productive, offering you practical perspectives on your work and creative trajectory that will continue to support you outside of our meetings. Depending on your aspirations, I provide two different frameworks for working together:

One time consultation: $495

We will begin with a 30-minute meeting to talk about where you are with your work, where you want to be, and what you see as your obstacles towards getting there. Come prepared to give me some sort of portfolio, and be ready to discuss your relationship to that which is greater than you. After I have been able to spend a week with your portfolio and your goals for yourself, we will meet again for a 30-minute consultation. In this second meeting I'll offer you feedback—answering specific questions you may have and focusing on general principles moving forward. I may also provide some customized suggestions for further reading & resources relevant to your creative practice.

One-on-One MENTORing: $150-$250 (sliding scale)

These are the 1:1 relationships I truly love cultivating because they are so impactful. With more time together at our disposal we can explore various exercises and meditative practices for quieting one’s mind and uncovering the heart of your practice. Unlike the one-time consultation where I take your portfolio away and sit with it, we will be doing work together, in real-time.

During each hour-long session we will look at whatever creative output you want to workshop together. Additionally, we will talk about ways to build on past successes and enhance your practice through customized reading recommendations, writing prompts, and lifestyle rituals.

These relationships can last as long as they are adding value to your life. For a more impactful engagement I ask that you commit to at least one session per week, for a minimum of eight sessions—which can be paid incrementally over time. This allows for a more substantial development in your practice. Meeting more frequently may also be an option depending on availability.

A note on the sliding scale: I encourage those who can to pay the full rate of $250 per hour, which subsidizes my ability to offer reduced rates to others.

CLIENT Testimonials

“The path of an artist can often feel like a solo one, with dreams leading the way. As an artist I thrive on ideas, inspiration and a wild nature. I knew I needed guidance on structure, and solid actions toward my vision. Working with Janaka was exactly what I was looking for. The simple act of saying yes, a commitment to myself—with the support of Janaka—propelled my art career and personal well being forward. Working with Janaka brought structure, obtainable goals, accountability and a solid and safe space. Janaka is present, and grounded, holding space while seeing solutions. Being an artist doesn’t have to be a solo venture, it can be a path of success, support and momentum. The work I did with Janaka has stayed with me. I am grateful for the tools, and a light on the path forward. “

—Dyanna C., Creative Director and Fashion Designer

“Working with Janaka established a direction in my career path that I could not have anticipated and have benefitted from for the years following our initial sessions. The tools we employed towards establishing and pursuing my individual goals were simple and practical, but I entirely credit their success with Janaka's supportive and enthusiastic presence which he brought to every meeting. Regardless of where you are in your professional or spiritual life, if you sense you could benefit from Janaka's help, I couldn't recommend his services more—you would not only glean wisdom from his years of hard-won professional and personal successes but you will gain an ally whose sincere interest in his students' own success surpasses the confines of allotted time.”

—Alfred R., Sculptor and Critic

“Working with Janaka was a gift. Through guided meditation, he created a space for me to answer the very question I posed to him. It’s like he knew I knew and he just wanted me to see it. His recommendations propelled me forward and took a grief-centric project and made it holy. Put simply, Janaka is magic!”

—Lennie D., Poet

“When I retired from the financial industry, I was determined to focus on growing my creativity. After a couple of years of some solo flailing around, I had the best fortune to connect with Janaka. Working with him as my creative mentor has been game changing for me. He has collaboratively guided me in building an individualized creative process that works for me—providing insight, input, knowledge and reading recommendations that have been uncannily perfect. Now, I am creating within a framework that supports productivity with goals. I recommend Janaka to all—he is a uniquely qualified, creative artist and mentor who I feel incredibly grateful to be working with.”

—Cindy B., Painter and Poet