Art that Roars with Heart, Precision, and Playfulness

At Art on the Square Gallery, we are thrilled to shine the spotlight on Kassy Rose—our youngest exhibiting artist and a wildly talented Charleston-based wildlife portraitist whose work is capturing hearts (and habitats) across the Lowcountry.

Kassy blends fine art technique with a deep, personal connection to the natural world. Her primary tools span gouache, watercolor, digital, and pencil—but perhaps most captivating is her use of the humble BIC pen. What began as a curious experiment in high school has evolved into her signature medium: hyperrealistic wildlife portraits made entirely from BIC ink. It’s no surprise that the brand itself has taken notice—BIC has since collaborated with Kassy online, a testament to her skill and originality.

Each piece she creates is a labor of love, requiring anywhere from 30 to over 100 hours to complete. Works like Gratified Grizzlies and Elegant Elephants showcase her astonishing attention to detail, rendering fur, expression, and spirit with stunning clarity and a pearlescent finish that glows in person.

But Kassy’s art is more than technical excellence—it’s personal.

“I started these portraits to teach my children about all the life around us,” she shares, “especially during a season when we were stuck in isolation.”

As a devoted mom of two, her art has become both a lifeline and a legacy—a way to pour love, learning, and connection into something lasting.

Kassy also brings her creativity to the community in joyful and unexpected ways. She teaches painting classes at Flower Town Charm Farm in Summerville, where students are surrounded by rabbits, chickens, baby cows, and even a tortoise. It’s part art class, part petting zoo, and 100% delightful.

For collectors who want to take a piece of her work on the go, Kassy has created something truly unique:

The Animal Atlas: Species and Emotion, a collectible keychain-sized art game that encourages people to “get wild”—to explore, connect, and learn about wildlife in a fun and meaningful way.

“It’s designed to get people out of the house and into the world around them,” she says. “Art should be playful, too.”

Beyond her studio and classes, Kassy has built a thriving online community through live-streaming on Whatnot, where she’s introduced wildlife portraiture to a platform more commonly associated with comics and gaming. It’s just one more example of how she blazes her own trail—always with heart, always with purpose.

At the core of everything she creates is a love for connection:

“Art isn’t about competition for me. It’s about lifting others up. It’s about creating space where people feel seen, inspired, and celebrated.”

You can follow Kassy’s creative journey on Instagram @kassyroseartist and on Facebook at facebook.com/kassyroseart. 

Her work is available regularly at Art on the Square Gallery, where her wildlife portraits offer collectors an unforgettable blend of precision, personality, and play.