Practice makes portraits

Jessica Kendic of rural Adair brings pencil drawings to life.

By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, July 2026

One definition of talent is making something difficult look easy. That description fits Jessica Kendic of rural Adair and the art she creates. She explained how her artistic endeavors began.

“I started drawing as a child. I mostly focused on animals. Then, as a teenager, I got interested in drawing old houses,” Kendic said. “It wasn’t until the last few years that I started doing portraiture.”

However, Kendic’s art did not simply happen. She devoted long hours to developing her technique.

“Drawing people was always something I had difficulty with, but I decided I wanted to learn, and I practiced eight hours a day for over a year,” she said. “I also sculpt in clay, and I paint with acrylic, and I sew dresses. I sew from vintage sewing patterns. But, now, portraiture has become my favorite since I learned how. It takes me about a day to do a single subject portrait.”

As Kendic honed her portraiture skills, people started noticing, and requests for commissioned work soon followed.

“I didn’t actively ask anybody to buy my work at first, but I had a few people ask me,” she said. “I do a lot of celebrity drawings, but I think my favorite is when it’s a family member they’re asking me to draw, because I like to make people happy and for it to be something they’ll keep and enjoy for years. I also draw pets for people.”

When asked about formal art training, Kendic explained that she is predominantly self-taught.

“I did take some classes at the Des Moines Art Center when I was a child. That just focused on basic visual art skills. That was around the time I was in fourth grade,” she said.

Kendic’s long hours of practice have given her the skill to create detailed, lifelike portraits. She does not rely on any equipment other than pencil and paper.

“The difficulty lies in that I work freehand. I don’t use a grid or a projector. I do it entirely with hand-eye coordination, and that can be frustrating sometimes,” she said.

Despite the detail required in her portraits, Kendic is able to work quickly. Most portraits are completed within one or two days.

“I pride myself on being able to deliver what they ask me to do quickly,” she said.

Anyone interested in contacting Kendic about her artwork or commissioning a portrait can email her at jkendic1938@gmail.com.

“My standard pricing is $70 for a single person portrait, for the 9-inch by 12-inch size,” she said.

Kendic is offering a $15 discount off the regular $70 price of a single-subject portrait to anyone who mentions this article.