Jan Wallen creates custom pet portraits that show the friendship and bond between people and their pets. Her colored pencil portraits are thoughtful and 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.
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The World is your Studio – Keep on Sketching!
Jan Wallen
Sketching captures special moments that you see and experience. No-one else sees or experiences them the way you do.
When you slow down and really look at something, and then really SEE it, you become present in the moment, a part of it. Whether it’s nature, one beautiful flower, a city scene, architecture or people having fun – whatever catches your fancy.
Looking back at your sketchbooks takes you back to those moments like nothing else does. It’s not the same to look at postcards or photos. Sketching is a very personal record of where you were and what caught your attention.
My website is meant to inspire you and encourage you to live your life fully and create priceless memories for yourself, your family and your friends. And sketches to remember and take you back to those times.
Start now. Look around you and sketch something you see – a cup, a chair, a flower. Start small if you’ve never done it before. A pencil and paper is all you require. You may also want an eraser. That’s fine. (No-one sees your sketchbook unless you want them to. It’s your private space.)
Start before you have a travel watercolor kit and brushes, or markers, or a watercolor sketchbook. Use a pencil and paper that’s handy. If you have them, great. Use them.
Start before everything is “perfect”. When the excuses and voices in your head that talk about “You can’t do that! – You can’t draw! – What? Are you crazy?” — Tell them politely to be quiet. (Or not so politely).
Start – even if you think you can’t draw. Sketching records your special moments. It’s not the same as drawing. Sketching can be very relaxing, almost meditative. It’s a way of taking time for yourself.
If you already have sketching supplies and have been sketching – Great! Look for ways to learn new techniques and styles. There are lots of ways to do that – UrbanSketchers.org – YouTube – Instagram – Pinterest – Books — and more.
The way I see it, mistakes are “happy accidents”.
Keep on sketching!
Get inspired
Let’s keep in touch and sketch!
Email me
askme (at) sketchingtheworld (dot) com
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