Born in Hong Kong and raised in San Francisco, Janice Lau Perez grew up with a notebook in hand, filling its pages with stories and characters of her own creation. Her favorite was Kimberly, a rag doll who became her first muse — complete with a cast of friends, comic adventures, and a spot on her bed reserved just for them. Even then, storytelling and world-building were her favorite forms of play.

Though art was her first love, limiting beliefs led her down a more “practical” path. She studied landscape architecture and later earned a master’s in urban and regional planning, building a career in parks planning and data analysis. But creativity always found its way back to her. While working full time, she began designing and selling stickers under the name Hamletta Studios — a joyful outlet that reawakened the part of her that loved to draw, imagine, and create.

After becoming a mother of two, she decided to step away from her government job to homeschool her children and focus on her art. Hamletta Studios returned during that season of rediscovery — not as a side project, but as a reflection of her growth as an artist, mother, and human being.

Now based in Sacramento, California, she creates “playful art with sassy heart,” inviting others to slow down, reconnect with their inner child, and playfully live their best life. Her work encourages women to break free from hustle culture and embrace joy, creativity, and authenticity — the foundation of a life that feels unapologetically yours.

When she’s not painting or journaling, you can find her exploring local parks with her kids, experimenting with new tech tools, or dreaming up fresh ideas for Hamletta Studios. She believes in the magic of daily play, the healing power of nature and that life’s best moments often start with an invitation to play, a matcha latte, and maybe a few too many lime-flavored chips.