Hey there, I’m Meg.
I create original Pastel Portraits of your beloved fur-friends.
As a youth, I was drawn to pencil and paper. I constantly toyed with a spiral-graph, coloring books, doodles- you name it. Art class was my strongest subject in school and always an environment of comfort. With the help of an incredibly talented and inspiring high school teacher, I started taking my art works to the next level. Fast-forward to 2014, one of my college classes introduced me to what is now my favorite medium; pastel. I fell in love with the bright colors and the way the chalk was easily manipulated.
Trial and error prevailed. Through practice and countless hours of online videos, I went from "finger painting" with the chalk to utilizing pastel-specific tools and techniques.
I have found myself specializing in pet portraits, a subject that is always inspiring for me. I find immense joy in bringing fur-babies to life in a hyper-realistic and technical way. I want my works to capture the essence of your pet and to find a special spot on the walls of your home for years to come.
Contact me if you are interested in having your pet rendered in pastel!
Learn more about my portrait commissions here.
The Balancing Act
I’m a Dog Mom/Pet Pastel Portrait Artist/Graphic Designer.
Here are a few fun facts about me and my life:
I currently Freelance and reside in New Jersey, but my roots and accent are from the Midwest.
I studied Graphic Design & Advertising at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, where I spent the first half of my 20’s.
I’m the eldest of 6 children and currently renovating my new home (AND studio) in Point Pleasant , NJ.
My latest hobby is throwing pottery and I take weekly classes at Belmar Clay Project.
About The Brand
Why Pastels & Pits?
It all began in 2015 when I brought home a year old pup named Richard.
Simply put, Richard changed my life. I didn’t grow up with large dogs- but I wanted a companion and tons of people in Savannah, GA seemed to rescue and own bully breeds. Richard quickly became my partner and fit right into my lifestyle! His emotional intelligence and eagerness to please was so incredible at first, and he has carried those traits and more into our adulthood.
Richard is one of those dogs that people label as a “Pitbull” based on the way he looks. This means that communities label Richard as “aggressive” and put bans on owning him in many places. They don’t know Richard personally, but make assumptions based on mis-informed stereotypes.
The reality is, Richard is a model canine citizen in so many ways! I am passionate about sharing Richard with the world to help change the stigma attached to “aggressive” dog breeds. Needless to say, I have a HUGE soft-spot for “pitbulls” and will continue to advocate for their breeds.
King Richard • 20” x 28” • 2018
Richard is my muse.
At least once a year I find myself rendering a creative depiction of Richard. He is such a great little model- I love making Richard Art!
He is perfect to me. I’ve drawn his little face spots countless times. It’s been wonderful experiencing life with him and seeing him grow into a mature dog.
The most recent rendering of Rich is not the most obvious, but you see it on my social channels all the time. That’s right, Richard’s head is the icon shape for my branding!
Space Boy • 9” x 12” • 2019
I look forward to future partnerships that promote bully breed education, advocate animal rescue/adoption, and fight to change local BSL.
Please reach out if you know of an opportunity and are interested in working together: pastelsandpits@gmail.com
Follow My Journey
Instagram is my favorite social media platform. It is highly visual, easy to navigate, and has been a fantastic tool for me to connect with other artists! Follow me @PastelsAndPits if you haven’t already.
