About Janel B. Keen

Why Weddings?
Like many in her field, Janel fell in love with the Wedding and Event Special Industry after planning and facilitating her own wedding in 2003. However, unlike most, her wedding took place shortly after the Governor of Virginia issued a "State of Emergency". Janel orchestrated her wedding only 2 days after Hurricane Isabel devastated Virginia. Although 2/3s of the state (including the city were the wedding was held) experienced statewide loss of power, flooding, and other obstacles Janel was successfully executed a spectacular wedding. Wedding guests were simply amazed by the event and remarked that it was, "The most beautiful wedding they've ever been to". The experience was a testament to Janel's quick thinking, organizational skills, ability to communicate, resourcefulness and exceptional creativity. In 2006 Janel launched Vivid Entertaining which later became Vivid Expressions LLC.
Background

Vivid Expressions LLC (presents "Art of Creative Celebrations") was conceived and is headed by founder, CEO and Artistic Director Janel Bailey Keen. Mrs. Keen is a Hampton Roads native originally from Hampton, Virginia. Mrs. Keen has been using her creative talents to express herself and communicate with others since a young child. Throughout her school years she has won a series of art and creative writing awards, was interviewed by local television, featured in the local newspaper, and honored for achievements with special recognition such as dinner with the late Congressmen "Tip" O'Neil all before the age of 18.
Mrs. Keen continued to utilize her passion and sharpen her skills as an artist by working as a Caricature Artist at Busch Gardens Williamsburg during the summer while pursuing her degree in art in the fall. She received her Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts from Norfolk State University in 1995 and for over 10 years she has enthusiastically gained extensive experience in Fine Art, Graphic Design, Tourism, Museums, Outreach Education, Public Relations, Public Speaking, Presentation, Training, and Marketing. During the course of her career she has been involved in every aspect of special events production - from facilitator to featured performer to event planning to event promotion. Mrs. Keen's planning and coordinating skills have been used in a variety of different types of events: Casting Call, Wedding, Corporate Picnic, Gallery Reception, etc. From painting murals for the Children's Museum of Virginia to heading Public Relations efforts for Animax LTD (Animation Studio), she has worked for and/or with many of the major tourism, entertainment, events, and arts organizations in Hampton Roads such as:

The Yorktown-Jamestown Foundation
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Portsmouth Museums
Virginia Symphony
Premiere Events (Freelance Caricaturist)
Tutu, Tootsie & Friends - A Clown Company (Freelance Artist)
Young Audiences of Virginia
Virginia Arts Festival (formerly Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival)
Animax Ltd., Animation Studio (Marketing Manager)
Bell Atlantic/Verizon Online Contractor (Training Specialist)
Decipher Inc., Entertainment & Gaming Studio (Marketing Manager)
Today Ms. Keen and Vivid Expressions LLC are members of the International Special Event Society (ISES) and Weddings Beautiful Worldwide. In 2008 Ms. Keen become a Certified Floral Designer and received her second Floral Design Certification in 2009. She continues to harness her far-reaching talents and abilities to create artistic, elaborate, and awe-inspiring visual decorative landscapes and event experiences.
Learn more here.