I enjoy painting portraits of animals, especially dogs and cats. I did my first dog portraits in 1983 as gifts for my sisters. It was not something I could imagine myself doing 40 years later, but it is a very satisfying way to spend my free time, and it has become the source of a lot of gift-giving over the years. I am a portrait artist in New Jersey, with a small camp in the Adirondacks, and I prefer to do commissioned portraits from photos I take locally. Somehow, whatever catches my eye through the camera lens becomes easier to apply to canvas.

Photography is also something I enjoy by itself. Being in the Adirondacks, I would regret the missed opportunity if I didn't have my camera with me all the time. There is something beautiful around every corner, and having a Photos page here allows me to share a little bit of it on a regular basis.

I also write. I grew up in northern New Jersey in the 50's, and have written a number of nostalgic stories about what it was like when Bergen County was filled with farmlands, wooded areas, and everything associated with rural life. I have a collection of these stories, and later adventures, available on Amazon.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone interested in art, portrait painting, and simply enjoying their later years.

I can be reached at: skipvanlenten@gmail.com