Jan Wallen

Studio #22

Jan Wallen creates custom pet portraits that show the friendship and bond between people and their pets. Her colored pencil portraits are personal. She takes time to observe the details and personality of the pets, and puts them in her portraits. She approaches every commission as a collaboration. Her artworks are in personal collections. She is a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and the Palm Coast Florida chapter, Urban Sketchers New York (City), and has been on the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour for six years.

Welcome to my Studio.

I grew up in a family of artists, and started art classes at the Denver Art Museum when I was five years old. During my business career, travels and living overseas in Europe and Asia, I continued my artwork with watercolor and urban sketching. Several artists have been my instructors and mentors including, Amy Shulke, Alan Ramiro, Ian Fennelly, David Drazil, Bonny Snowdon and Kirsty Partridge.

More recently I’ve studied drawing realism with colored pencils and ink, and specifically, pet portraits. I’ve always been a cat lover, and cats have always been a part of my life. What I love most about pet portraits is the precision involved in creating the portraits, taking time to understand the unique details and personality of the pet whose portrait I’m drawing, and incorporating that into the portrait.

I work from  photographs that the owner and I review together as we talk about the uniqueness and personality of their pet. My artistic process is to first choose the photograph(s) with the pet owner, then choose the quality paper and pencils that best represent the pet, and start the portrait, building up layers for texture and depth.

When you come to my Studio this year, you’ll see examples of pet portraits I’ve completed, small studies that I do to keep my skills sharp and other artworks in realism. Plus, I’ll answer any questions you may have.

Artists, Pet Portraits, Drawing, Colored Pencils