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Annalena Ouwens
Wildlife & Pet Portrait Artist
Original animal and wildlife artwork.
Black and white animal art prints.
Custom pet portrait commissions.
I'm Annalena.
I'm glad you found your way to my website.
This means you're either an animal lover, a wildlife enthusiast, a cat person, an art collector, or all of the above — so we probably have one thing or two in common!
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I create wildlife art and custom pet portraits working mainly with pastel, graphite and charcoal. My art is inspired by my love for animals — and my deep connection with cats in particular.
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I don't have an official art degree. Still, I wouldn't consider myself fully self-taught as I took many online courses by several different artists, with different mediums and styles which all influenced the way my work developed.
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In a world where we're constantly overstimulated, drawing in black and white allows me to take away the noise of colour and create a calming effect on the viewer.
With my drawings, I aim to capture the individual beauty and character of each animal, and bring a sense of warmth, tranquility and love into your home.
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Hi,
Art allows us to lose ourselves and find ourselves at the same time.
The calm appeal of monochrome art
Thinking back, I've always found black and white photographs intriguing. Comparing them to their coloured versions I tried to figure out the reason for that. While I couldn't quite put my finger on it, I knew they made me feel calm.
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Now, specialising in monochrome artwork using pastel, charcoal and graphite, I think about this a lot and seem to get a better understanding of what makes monochrome drawings so special:
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Black and white drawings have this magical ability to draw you in, to make you stop and appreciate the moment. They feel rich in emotion and depth.
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But what's most: Without the noise and distraction of colour, the viewer pays more attention to line, shape, lights, darks, texture and perspective — which in return creates a sense of calm and tranquility.
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And then there's the fact that black and white art has a timeless and nostalgic appeal. It blends in with a variety of interior design styles — from Minimalist, over Modern, Scandinavian and Industrial, to Eclectic and colourful interiors.
