Rae Whalen is a Chicago area portrait artist working in the traditional realist style. A custom picture framer by trade, painting was seen as a hobby for many years as there were always bills to pay. Deciding to take a chance on a lifelong dream of being a full time artist, Rae began an intense schedule of working by day and studying painting at night. After building an impressive body of work, she left the 9 to 5 job and devoted all her time to her art.
Rae’s artist statement reads: “Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, I have always felt most at home among the trees and rivers of the rural countryside. Through my travels I draw endless inspiration that compels me to create. Painting is the perfect medium for me. It allows me to express the quiet solitude that I enjoy so much, and to share with others. My work is a balance between my desire to convey an emotion and my love for the precise detail of high realism.“