Bio

Jan Schmidt began her creative journey at a small art school overlooking a seaside village, later pursuing studies in graphic design, illustration, and Art Education at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. She lived, worked, and raised a family in Brooklyn for over three decades, contributing to a range of meaningful and imaginative projects - including drawing and designing exhibits for the Chattanooga Children’s Museum, creating a traveling installation about sleep for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and painting a giant floral mural for NYU Hospital’s therapy garden.

Now based in Connecticut, Schmidt works from a butter-yellow farmhouse where she brings to life a whimsical world of imaginary characters and environments, portraits, games, patterns, and hand-drawn lettering. When she’s not at the drawing board, she can be found gardening or hiking with her dog, (Pippy Longstocking). In the evenings, she and her husband—a furniture designer—often unwind by sketching together on their iPads while watching their latest favorite series.