Close-up of a painted portrait of a cow with a light blue background, showing detailed features including large, expressive eyes, a pink nose, and black and white fur.

My art began as a way to reconnect with myself. I bring animals close - really close - so their eyes and personalities become the story. Through bold color, expressive brushwork, and a touch of humor, I create portraits that feel alive, familiar and full of heart. I hope each painting helps others pause, feel something, and connect - with themselves and with one another.

Expressive animal art created in Boise, Idaho

Animal Art Prints
Expressive acrylic painting of a donkey against a bright yellow background.
Notecards
Sets of notecards featuring painted dog and bird portraits, tied with twine, with tags indicating themes like 'Book,' 'Dog Lovers,' 'Birds & One Cat,' 'Mountains,' and 'Jen's Favorites.'
A display of six colorful animal paintings on a beige fabric background, surrounded by white flowers and green leaves, with a tag on the right that says "Jen's Favorites," mentioning six notecards inside.
Six colorful illustrated dog portraits arranged on a beige surface, surrounded by white flowers and green leaves, with a tag that says 'Dog Lovers' and indicates 6 notecards inside.
Collection of six painted animal portraits and a painting of a fish, arranged on a beige fabric background with greenery and a wooden tag labeled 'Mountains', indicating these are mountain-themed animal paintings for a set of six blank notecards.
Original Art
A portrait painting of a dog with black, white, and tan fur, looking directly at the viewer against a plain beige background.
A colorful painting of a fish with shades of blue, purple, and pink, set against a soft pastel background.
Custom Pet Portrait
Side-by-side comparison of a dog photograph and an artistic painting of the same dog, a black and white spaniel with a red collar.
Painting of a black and white dog with floppy ears wearing a red collar hanging on a wall in a living room.
Running Back To Me Picture Book

Experience The Book - Running Back To Me

Snow leopard picture with a monarch butterfly on its nose, both set against a light blue background. The text reads 'Running Back to Me' in orange and yellow letters, and there is a note indicating the book is written and illustrated by Jen Zelinsky.
Motivational quote with butterflies and a colorful field, saying 'You are loved, you are brave, and you carry everything you need inside you.'
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOOK
A painting of a donkey with a brown face and long ears, standing against a background of green grass and blue sky. Text on the image reads: 'Why do you run so hard?' asked the donkey, his ears perked up ready to listen.
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS & cOMMUNITY IMPACT
A colorful, painted illustration of a snow leopard with a vibrant background of blue, green, yellow, and orange, featuring the words 'I'd been running since the sun peeked over the hills when a loud HOOT! made me stop in my tracks.'
A colorful painting of a green frog with black and yellow eyes, sitting on a pale pink surface with a blue background.

Meet more of the animals

Colorful painting of two alpacas with brown and reddish fur against a bright blue background.
Colorful painting of a brown dog with a pink nose and a pink collar with a silver tag, looking up. Bright yellow background.
A colorful painting of a bear's face with detailed fur and expressive eyes, set against a vibrant yellow background.
A colorful abstract painting of a highland cow with long hair against a yellow background.
Painting of Basset Hound with droopy ears and long face, on an orange background.
A colorful painting of a dog with a varied coat of black, white, and orange fur, looking to the side with its tongue slightly out.
Painting of a black cat with green eyes and a pink nose against a yellow-green background.
Colorful painting of a rooster with vivid orange, red, and brown feathers, large expressive eyes, a bright yellow beak, and a prominent red comb, set against a bright blue background.
A colorful painting of a frog with large, detailed eyes, green skin with black spots, and a yellow background.
Painting of a colorful bird, with blue head and wings and orange and red chest, perched on a tree stump against a warm brown background.
Colorful painting of an alpaca with large dark eyes and fluffy fur standing outdoors with green grass, distant mountains, and a clear blue sky.
Painting of a black and blue raven perched on a branch against an orange background.
Painting of a black, white, and gray dog sitting on green grass with a yellow-green background.
Close-up of a donkey's face with large eyes and big ears, set against a landscape with mountains, green vegetation, and a bright blue sky with white clouds.
Painting of three donkeys with large ears against a blue background.
A detailed painting of a corgi with a focus on the head and face, showing expressive eyes, large ears, and a slightly open mouth with the tongue sticking out, set against a teal background.
Painting of a colorful parrot with a large yellow beak, green eye, red and green feathers, set against a blue sky and ocean background.
A painting of an owl with yellow eyes, set against an orange and yellow background.
Painting of a snow leopard with piercing green eyes on a yellow background.

Meet Jen

A woman with short blonde hair, light skin, and wearing a white blouse, seated with her left arm resting on a table covered with black fabric, smiling gently at the camera.

Hi, I’m Jen - a Boise-based artist and storyteller. I returned to painting during a challenging season as a way to reconnect with myself, and somewhere along the way, expressive animals became the heart of my work. Today, I create art and stories that invite people of all ages to pause, feel, and connect - with themselves and with one another.

READ MY STORY

Let’s stay connected

Stay in Touch

Follow along. See new paintings, works in progress, upcoming events, and a little of what happens behind the scenes.

Meet Sam! 🐟💛 Switching things up with a few shimmering scales instead of fur and feathers. I had so much fun painting this guy! Time to let him shine! 🎨✨#animalart #indieartist #salmon #kindness
A few sweet faces I’ve painted. 💛 Want your pet painted? Check out custom pet portraits at www.jenzelinsky.com—link in bio! #petportrait #custompetportrait #animalart #indieartist
Such a beautiful night at Jordan’s. @scarson45band sounded incredible. 💛
My studio is expanding, and I’m excited to share more of what I’ve been creating. ✨ www.jenzelinsky.com 💛 #newarrivals #originalart #fineart #notecards #boiseartist
My studio is expanding, and I’m excited to share more of what I’ve been creating. ✨ www.jenzelinsky.com 💛 #newarrivals #originalart #fineart #notecards #boiseartist
Still smiling after such a fun night! 💛 Huge thanks to everyone who helped me get ready and came out to support me — and to @sagebrushcollaborative for putting together such a cool event. So grateful! 🦋🎨#animalart #kindness #indieartist #boiseartist
Hope to see you tonight! Confluence Market at Sagebrush Collaborative 1609 N. 13th St., Boise, ID 83702 Tonight, 5–9 PM 🎨✨
Getting ready for Thursday ✨ I’ll be at the Confluence Market with Sagebrush Collaborative from 5–9 PM
Coming soon to my website—my artwork on notecards and 8×10 and 11×14 prints! I’ll also have them available in person at Sagebrush Collective this Thursday from 5–9 PM.#animalart #kindness #indieartist #boiseartist
25 years. A little greyer, a little wiser. Lots of love, lots of work, lots of communication — and still growing together. ❤️
25 years. A little greyer, a little wiser. Lots of love, lots of work, lots of communication — and still growing together. ❤️
July + August on canvas. 🎨 Stop by and see them in person at Waters Edge Gallery at The Riverside Hotel in Boise.#kindness #animalart #indieartist #boise
Meet Sam! 🐟💛 Switching things up with a few shimmering scales instead of fur and feathers. I had so much fun painting this guy! Time to let him shine! 🎨✨#animalart #indieartist #salmon #kindness
A few sweet faces I’ve painted. 💛 Want your pet painted? Check out custom pet portraits at www.jenzelinsky.com—link in bio! #petportrait #custompetportrait #animalart #indieartist
Such a beautiful night at Jordan’s. @scarson45band sounded incredible. 💛
My studio is expanding, and I’m excited to share more of what I’ve been creating. ✨ www.jenzelinsky.com 💛 #newarrivals #originalart #fineart #notecards #boiseartist
Still smiling after such a fun night! 💛 Huge thanks to everyone who helped me get ready and came out to support me — and to @sagebrushcollaborative for putting together such a cool event. So grateful! 🦋🎨#animalart #kindness #indieartist #boi
Hope to see you tonight! Confluence Market at Sagebrush Collaborative 1609 N. 13th St., Boise, ID 83702 Tonight, 5–9 PM 🎨✨
Getting ready for Thursday ✨ I’ll be at the Confluence Market with Sagebrush Collaborative from 5–9 PM
Coming soon to my website—my artwork on notecards and 8×10 and 11×14 prints! I’ll also have them available in person at Sagebrush Collective this Thursday from 5–9 PM.#animalart #kindness #indieartist #boiseartist
25 years. A little greyer, a little wiser. Lots of love, lots of work, lots of communication — and still growing together. ❤️
July + August on canvas. 🎨 Stop by and see them in person at Waters Edge Gallery at The Riverside Hotel in Boise.#kindness #animalart #indieartist #boise