About the Artist “Brooke’s Mom”

Jana Austin was raised by an engineer and an actress in Laurel Canyon. From her earliest memory, Jana loved painting and drawing and was good at it. So shy, she was often never heard or seen in the classroom, yet her paintings spoke volumes. She was known amongst classmates at Hollywood High as “the Girl from the Canyon”.

The 1960s in the Los Angeles art world was transformative with the rise of the entertainment industry. It became a distinct and thriving art scene on its own. Jana was one of very few women at the time to attend, The Art Institute of Los Angeles. The Dean said, “she is the best artist we have had at the school.” Jana went on to work as a fashion designer for major movie studios illustrating costumes and dresses for the top designers.

Since the age of five, Jana knew she wanted to be a mother, so left the design world to be a full-time mom to Brooke and her brother. Jana filled the house with her stunning art, journaled the family’s vacations with sketches and gifted friends thank you cards of watercolors and pencil drawings that they then framed in their homes. In 1996, Jana was first diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2009, she lost the love of her life to colon cancer. Jana was a silent warrior who lived with cancer, and the goal to reach 80 years old. Her love and passion for drawing, painting and journaling through sketching got her through sickness, loss and grief. In November 2022, Brooke shared the news that she too had been diagnosed with breast cancer. God prepared this mother-daughter duo for their final chapter by allowing Jana to do what she did best, be a mom and caretaker during Brooke’s cancer battle. Upon the heels of Brooke’s last treatment and surgery, Brooke became her mom’s caretaker during the final battle of Jana’s life with metastatic breast cancer. Jana passed on February 9, 2023, the day of her wedding anniversary.

While closing Jana’s estate, Brooke found portfolios and sketchbooks filled with Jana’s artwork that had never been seen by others. She also found a handwritten note from Jana, saying “You can’t change the world, but you can make a little corner more beautiful.” In response, Brooke has created “Jana’s Corner,” an online gallery with images of Jana’s artwork and featured on gift cards for cancer coaching sessions.

“For my Mom, art helped her communicate what she couldn’t find words for and helped her live with her diagnosis in a unique and special way. The emotional outlet art provided my Mom was cathartic and fulfilling. My goal is to help you find tools that will do the same for you.”