About Sabine
Hi I’m Sabine!
I’m so glad you’re here!
I’m an animal portrait artist from Austria with a deep love for animals, art, and helping others rediscover their creativity. For years, I’ve been drawing lifelike animals with pastels—and now, I guide artists and animal lovers around the world to do the same.
My vision is to help artists and animal lovers world-wide to confidently create lifelike pastel portraits, transform their passion into purpose, and bring more colour and joy to the world.
My vision is to help artists and animal lovers world-wide to confidently create lifelike pastel portraits, transform their passion into purpose, and bring more colour and joy to the world.
But this journey isn’t just about learning how to draw—it’s about building confidence, overcoming self-doubt, and finding joy in creating something meaningful.
Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time or returning to art after years, you’re welcome here.
I draw lifelike animal portraits with much love, passion, perseverance, and patience.
Stroke by stroke, realistic drawings come to life featuring horses, dogs, cats, and pets of all kinds.
The fascination with wild animals also continues to captivate me.
It is very close to my heart to draw beloved four-legged friends as lifelike as possible, capturing their essence and reflecting their personal character.
I live in Austria with my family, I have a daughter, my horse and our cat.
I live in Austria with my family, I have a daughter, my horse and our cat.
I’ve always loved two things deeply: animals and drawing.
As a child, I’d fill every spare piece of paper with horses and cats—my pencil case, school notebooks, nothing was safe.
Drawing gave me joy, but like so many others, I was told it wasn’t a “real” career.
So, I followed the practical path: college, then a job in an office.I worked in that office world for over 20 years—steady income, yes, but never the freedom or fulfillment I truly desired.
I’d often ask myself, “Can I afford this?” before a dinner out or buying something special. I was living by default, not design.
But deep down, I knew I wanted more. I wanted to live with purpose. To create. To feel free.
While my day job kept me busy, I kept drawing –
first as a side hustle, often late at night.
My beloved horse Rubina, became my muse.
I experimented, practiced, struggled, and slowly fell in love with the magic of pastels.
Bringing animals to life on paper felt like stepping into another world. A peaceful one. A healing one.
I began drawing portraits for friends and family, and eventually for clients.
For many pet owners, their pets are part of the family, part of their hearts—they are loved with body and soul.
For me, it is a wonderful job to be able to portray these animals. It is very important to me to draw each beloved four-legged friend as lifelike as possible, to capture their nature, and reflect their personal character.
“The eyes are the gates to the soul,” they say—and that’s why the eyes are always the heart of every portrait I create.
Every time I send one of my works on a journey to its owner, it’s hard to say goodbye.
Each piece holds so much passion, love, and heart.
But knowing that someone is overjoyed—moved to tears, smiling with love—that’s the feeling I live for.
That’s why I love this work so much.
When my daughter was born in 2016, everything shifted. I reduced my office hours to be more present with her—and with my animal art—giving me even more time to focus on what I truly loved.
That’s when something beautiful began to happen: people started asking me to teach them how to draw.
At first, I hesitated. I was used to quietly working behind the scenes, creating portraits that captured the soul of animals.
But at some point, it clicked.
What if I could combine my passion for animals, art, and teaching into something meaningful?
What if I could help others find the same joy, healing, and confidence that drawing brought me?
That’s when the Animal Art Club was born. Now THE JOY OF PASTELS CLUB.
Now, I don’t just draw lifelike portraits. I help other artists and animal lovers do the same.
I guide them—gently and supportively—to unlock their creative potential, overcome self-doubt, and start believing in their abilities.
I’ve seen my students go from “I’m not good enough” to
“I can’t believe I drew this!”
To me, drawing is so much more than creating beautiful art. It’s about transformation. It’s about rediscovering yourself, healing old wounds, and reconnecting with joy. It’s about building confidence and finding purpose in something that lights you up.
To me, drawing is so much more than creating beautiful art. It’s about transformation. It’s about rediscovering yourself, healing old wounds, and reconnecting with joy. It’s about building confidence and finding purpose in something that lights you up.
Every portrait I create is filled with love, patience, and passion.
Every student I teach is supported with kindness, encouragement, and care.
Whether you’re here to draw for fun, give heartfelt gifts, or turn your passion into something bigger—you belong here.
You are capable. You are creative. You are welcome.
I’m here to walk this journey with you—stroke by stroke, dream by dream—
until your animals leap off the page, and you begin to truly see the artist (and magic) within yourself.
I’m here to empower artists and animal lovers to unlock their creative potential, build confidence, and experience personal transformation through the art of drawing lifelike animal portraits.
I’m here to empower artists and animal lovers to unlock their creative potential, build confidence, and experience personal transformation through the art of drawing lifelike animal portraits.
AWARDS
