About the Artist

Janeen Schissler

Early in life Janeen knew creating art was her passion and calling. Immediately out of high school her art career began as a commercial artist. During her years working in commercial art she also spent much of her time off, out of doors as an avid bird watcher. During her outings, with sketchbook in hand, she would sketch what she saw in nature. She created many studies, refining her skills in watercolor and drawing.  Watercolor became her primary medium using techniques of applying layers of glazed color and drybrush strokes.

In 1978 she made a move to the Pacific Northwest and began exhibiting and competing and art shows and auctions in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Arizona and Wyoming and found wildlife art was popular and sought after. During this time, she exhibited and was represented by the Coeur D’ Alene Gallery in Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho and Parkside Gallery in Carmel, California, Saks Gallery, Denver, Colorado

After working in the watercolor medium for 20 years Janeen began to expand her skills in other painting mediums. New artists and student artists requested instruction in watercolors which then expanded to pastel painting.

In 2008 Janeen opened her studio to students and began teaching classical painting and drawing. With thirty years of experience as a practicing fine artist and instructor, Janeen developed her own curriculum emphasizing classical instruction and methods. In 2010 Schissler Academy of Fine Arts was opened in Loveland, Colorado and for ten years saw as many as 400 students come to study. Students of Schissler Academy learned and  practiced classical mediums and techniques of drawing and painting.

In 2021 Janeen moved to the Arkansas Ozarks to paint the beauty of the Ozarks. Janeen continues to teach drawing and painting online.

Janeen's work has been featured in both solo and group exhibits throughout the United States and Canada, including the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Both private collectors and corporations own Janeen's work, most recently those of Idaho Forest Industries, Coeur D'Alene Mines, and Leaning Tree Inc.

Awards and Distinctions include; Plein Air Painters' U.S. Open, Whitby Island, Washington, September 2006, St. Judes Silver State Show and Auction, Las Vegas, Nevada, Best of Show.  April 1995. Poster Artist for the 2004 Sandpoint Music Festival. Pastel Society of America, Purchase Award.