

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Chandler.
Hi Claudia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a native of Olathe, Kansas, and began drawing the moment I could hold a pencil as a child – I haven’t stopped creating illustrations since! I retired from teaching in 2019 and began building my art creations repertoire. My hyper-realistic illustrations, which are frequently mistaken for photographs, are created in four different mediums: Graphite drawings, professional colored pencil, oil on canvas, and scratchboard. I have created quite a large number of commission pet portraiture in both graphite and colored pencil. An animal’s soul is through his eyes – this is the heartbeat of my pet portraiture illustrations. In addition, I specialize in wildlife, traditional landscapes, and child portraits.
Art is much like gardening for me – it soothes my soul. It is my passion. As Henry Ward Beecher, American minister and speaker once stated: “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” People have asked me where I learned to create such amazing illustrations. I am one-hundred percent self-taught. I consider my ability a gift from God. I have been asked to teach others how to do what I do. I am unsure if I can . . . after all, I simply create for others what their heart desires. I listen to their stories and try to learn the emotion they feel about the subject. It is that passion that I emulate in even the most minute detail of every illustration I create. When I capture that, I have created a forever memory of a moment frozen in time that will be forever cherished.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The art world is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for those who wish to become financially stable – at least not in a reasonable period of time. For me, it began as a hobby that I dabbled in while teaching middle school where I taught math and language arts. Once I decided to retire from teaching in the classroom, I found time to develop my skills. As more and more people saw my creations, commissions began to come my way. It is still quite sporadic – sometimes I’m inundated with orders, and then months may pass with nothing. Those times are difficult because the self-doubt creeps in – that perhaps my art isn’t what people want. Also, the financial investment is substantial. The cost of supplies is, for some, prohibitive.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I cannot fathom specializing in only one subject matter, or in only one art medium. I love the variety of choosing between landscapes, nature, portraits of children, wildlife, and animals as pets. Most of my commissions are requested in professional colored pencil. In fact, all the photos of my artwork provided here are colored pencil, with the exception of the scratch board image (white on black) of the Labrador retriever, who I call Shadow.
Each time I begin a new piece, the nerves kick in a bit, and my thoughts go to, “What if I’ve lost the ability to do this!?!” It seems a rather silly notion, but creating, especially for my clients, is the pinnacle of trust. I never accept less than perfection for my clients. Fortunately, the ability to create kicks in more strongly and away I go!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
The greatest joy for me is when I can deliver my art creation to a client. Many of my commissions are for pet portraits – some fur babies who have passed. In these meetings with the animal’s human parents, the reactions are frequently quite emotional. After all, this is a forever memory of their beloved pet. Naturally, I shed tears right along with them. I am a lover of pets, too, and over the years have experienced the heartbreak of losing my fur babies. They become family members.
Happiness, for me, is when the recipient shares their new portrait’s special space in their home, where they can pass by each day and for a few moments reminisce about all the time spent with their precious pet.
Pricing:
- Varies, depending upon size and art medium.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://claudiachandlerart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiamchandlerfineart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudiachandlerart/