Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Belin.
Hi Jenny, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Los Angeles. I began taking art classes when I was very young. Later I studied art more seriously in high school and at Skidmore College, where I graduated with a degree in Fine Arts. After college, I moved to New York City, which is where I live right now.
I started painting pet portraits professionally in 1998. Making pictures of cats and dogs had always been a lot of fun, but I had never considered this kind of work to be a career option until friends and family encouraged me to give it a try. I was lucky early on to receive great press from Domino Magazine and Apartment Therapy. This exposure opened many doors and helped put me on the map.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a pretty smooth road overall. Being an artist is not always easy because getting commissions and being in shows is not constant. It helps to understand that in the big picture, there are more ups than downs.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Portraiture has become a focus in my work, mostly because I am enchanted by the personalities of my subjects. When I am commissioned to paint a pet portrait, my biggest concern is to capture the pet’s likeness. Just as important is to pay homage to a pet’s unique character. I think a lot about the wonderful stories that my clients share about their beloved furry friends. These stories make a huge impression on me and strongly influence my portraits. Each dog and cat truly deserves to be immortalized in a portrait that expresses his/her unique charisma.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I’m not sure if this is a question about St. Louis or about Brooklyn. I will go with St. Louis…
I have extended family in St. Louis who I love spending time with.
I am crazy about the shops on Cherokee Street, in particular Retro 101/Cherry Bomb Vintage.
It is my favorite vintage store anywhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jennybelin.com
Image Credits
Jenny Belin
