About the Artist:


Jessica Van Antwerp Art:A graduate of the Rutgers University Art History program, Jessica has spent the last ten years developing her unique style. Her expressionistic, whimsical, paintings and soft-sculpture animal designs have garnered her appreciation from art collectors and animal enthusiasts worldwide. After studying privately with fine artists such as Bob Beck, Sue Kelleher, and Charles Viera, Jessica began teaching at Hunterdon Central Regional High School, where she became the art advisor of the online magazine, Electric Soup. During this period, she established her own soft-sculpture art business, Van Antwerp Bears. Jessica’s miniature teddy bear designs have been sold internationally, and she was the recipient of a 2000 “The National” Award at the National Teddy Bear Convention in Pennsylvania.

The success of Van Antwerp Bears led to Jessica’s expansion of the business to include her abstract watercolor interpretations of human and animal forms. She specializes in capturing the essence and personality of domestic animals. Recently, her work has been sold at the L.A. PAWS auction, a Los Angeles-based fund-raiser to provide animal therapy for AIDS patients. She has also participated in many fund-raiser auctions for breed rescues and seeing-eye dog providers.

Shows

"Exhibitor at the 2004 New York Art Festival" Hosted by Independent Film Quarterly.

Commission Information
Jessica likes to work with individuals. She lets them point out samples of her past work as a guideline for their tastes.

Jessica likes to work from as many pictures as possible. She will return them with the painting. Jessica will send a digital image of the painting when it is finished.

In Jessica's paintings, she tries to capture the true spirit of the animal while keeping to her original whimsical and abstract style using watercolor and ink in bright vivid colors. Commissions take up to four weeks to complete. Prices are for one subject and comes unframed.

Large sizes are either 15" x 20" or 20" x 30". They are done on illustration board in watercolor and ink. Smaller sizes are done on watercolor paper.