About Us

About Us

Welcome to Sketch and Paws—a creative brand rooted in story, sketch, and a love of both pets and place.

Whitney Niesz, the founder of Sketch and Paws, grew up on an apple farm in Eastern Washington, immersed in the full agricultural cycle—from packing fruit in her family’s warehouse to watching boxes get picked up and shipped for sale. Her father ran the apple farm, and she learned the value of hard work and production firsthand, while her mother’s side of the family worked in hop farming—giving her a unique perspective on two of the region’s most iconic crops. That early exposure instilled a deep appreciation for process, creativity, and entrepreneurship. It’s a foundation that’s shaped everything we do, both in business and in art.

After studying advertising and fine arts at Washington State University—home to one of the nation’s leading communications schools—Whitney spent 20+ years building a career across product marketing, retail operations, global communications, and partnership performance marketing leading high profile initiatives at the worlds largest companies; Amazon and Microsoft.

Whitney Niesz is a licensed artist and the founder of Sketch and Paws, a greeting card and print brand inspired by the animals we love and the Eastern Washington landscape she calls home. What began as a playful series of pet sketches has grown into a full collection celebrating the charm of the region—from the rolling hills and vineyards of Yakima to vibrant hop fields and iconic pink sunsets. Most recently, we've introduced our Palm Springs of Washington collection—curated in collaboration with Caskey Design to blend local scenery with nostalgic touches and clever, lighthearted messages.

Every illustration is digitally created, blending artistic detail with storytelling and heart. Whether it’s a note card for a dog lover, a vineyard sketch for your kitchen wall, or a postcard that says “Yaki Vegas,” my goal is to make everyday moments feel a little more personal and a lot more joyful.

Thanks for stopping by—we’re so glad you’re here.