Pen Hsuan Hsing of ArtPen Studio is a storyteller who transforms her imaginative ideas into something whimsical and full of warmth. She’s an artist and designer with a love for detail, drawing inspiration from everyday life. Whether she’s sketching, painting, or sanding for hours in the garage workshop, Pen puts her heart into everything she makes.
ArtPen Studio started as a small personal project and has grown into a creative space where Pen explores ways to combine illustration, design, functionality, and interactive play into her work. Pen’s pieces blend classic charm with a modern touch — playful, thoughtful, and full of personality, just like her.
When you can’t find Pen in the studio, chances are she is somewhere in the mountains! The avid hiker has trekked through western Canada and recently accomplished the Alta Via 1 trail in the Dolomites, Italy. The mountain is not only her source of inspiration, but also where she can truly unwind from work and be recharged for the next set of challenges.
Friends and clients alike describe Pen as patient, curious, and endlessly creative. She believes that art isn’t just about how something looks, but how it makes you feel and connect with others. Through ArtPen Studio, she continues to build a world where creativity feels warm, approachable, and deeply human — one piece at a time.
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Which ’hood are you in?
I live in the Mosquito Creek neighbourhood of North Vancouver. I moved here in 2011, and was completely blown away by how green it was. Countless shades of green fill the parks, trails, and hills. The environment definitely had a huge impact on me and influenced how I wanted to pursue my creations. I lived in Taipei, Taiwan, previously, and day-to-day life was within a concrete jungle, so I really appreciate being surrounded by all kinds of nature.
What do you do?
I am a designer who specializes in combining the natural textures and colours of wood with unique and meaningful design. Whether it’s whimsical puzzle sets that can inspire endless stories, clocks made from salvaged trees that truly bring out every single wood grain, ornaments that are filled with delightful joy, or our signature custom name puzzle sets that emphasize love and connection, every piece delivers my vision and passion through finely crafted wood art.
What are you currently working on?
I’m always working on custom name puzzle sets! There are endless possibilities with the custom sets, pets, hobbies, and special symbols can all be included since each piece is tailor-made. I love receiving all sorts of requests when it comes to our custom work; some of our ornaments, as well as puzzle set pieces, were originally custom-requested objects, and I love that! Besides that, brainstorming for the next ornament and puzzle design never stops. I want to come up with new products every year, and sometimes one piece might take a few months just to get the design and woodwork technicalities aligned, so that is always in the works.
Where can we find your work?
My work is in the Circle Craft store on Granville Island, at the Seymour Art Gallery shop in Deep Cove, and on my website. You can find me once a month in the public market of Granville Island, too.
