Jordan Perkins is an artist based in Coldstream.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Jordan Perkins
January 06, 2025 - 6:00 AM
A self-taught artist based in Coldstream is painting vibrant works of work while raising money for several charities in the province.
Jordan Perkins acrylic paintings are big, bold and colourful, and focus on animal and people portraits.
“It’s super fun, the main thing people say about my art is it’s whimsical and it makes them happy,” he said.
Perkins art career started in 2015 while he was looking for a fun activity to do with his young daughter and went to a dollar store to stock up on paints and canvasses.
When his daughter asked to hang one of his paintings in her room, he was motivated to learn more and improve his skills.
“It’s like when we started learning how to walk, there was a lot of falling down,” Perkins said. “I started painting in my kitchen, hundreds of paintings and thousands of hours of practise.”
This acrylic painting of bear was created by Coldstream artist Jordan Perkins.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Jordan Perkins
Eventually the artist was earning enough money through his art to quit his job as a restaurant owner and pursue painting as a full-time career.
In the past, the majority of his work was doing commissioned memorial paintings of people’s deceased pets.
“I’d describe my work at spontaneous realism,” he said. “The idea is, you’re going to send me a picture of your dog and the painting will look just like your dog except with more fun, colourful art.
“I make art, not paintings, and my goal is make them happy, bright and fun.”
Last year he began doing live painting events at charity events, including Big Brother, Big Sister and Kidney foundations. He raised roughly $20,000 for charity in 2024 and sold more than 140 paintings.
“I go to live charity events for free where people can watch me for the three or four hours it takes, and we’ll auction it and we’ll split the money,” he said.
“The guests just love it, and at the same time they’re donating money.”
This commissioned pet portrait was painted by Coldstream artist Jordan Perkins.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Jordan Perkins
Perkins isn’t currently taking more commissioned work. He's putting his effort into collaborating with as many charities as he can. So far he has five live charity painting events booked for this year.
READ MORE: South Okanagan renovator discovers historical community treasure
Perkins works out of a gallery and studio at his Coldstream home and his work can be found in homes, bars and restaurants in the Okanagan, Kamloops and beyond.
“The idea was, what is my legacy going to be, how will I be remembered?” he said. “Oh, I’m going to raise money for charity so I can help out lots of people.”
Go here to see more of Jordan Perkins art.
One of Coldstream artist Jordan Perkins acrylic paintings is a brightly coloured moose.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Jordan Perkins
Jordan Perkins paints a hummingbird at a charity event at Allan Brooks Nature Centre in Vernon on Christmas Eve, 2024.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Jordan Perkins
To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.
News from © iNFOnews, 2025