My name is Jean A. Schapowal and I am a self taught cake decorator/designer, creating cakes for 14+ years. I graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 1987 with a BFA in Fine Arts, majoring in cartoon and illustration. As you can tell from my work it has a very heavy cartoony/pop feel to it! I freelanced for numerous years doing work for Putnam Publishing, Weight Watchers and DC Comics to name a few. I did logo design, wedding invites, calligraphy work, custom T-shirt designs and murals.

With the start of my family my art career began to take a different route. I began to create cakes for my kids own birthday parties and thus Cakes with Character was born. Friends and family attending these functions would inquire about the cakes and business would begin to grow. After dabbling in numerous art techniques, I found that cake decorating was antoher amazing and creative new medium! Simple occasion and birthday cakes began to transform over the years. I became more serious in experimentiing with new techniques, styles and designs that people were not offering on Long Island, practicing on cakes and donating to family, friends and charities. I began competing in cake shows across the country and taking the leap in competing in LIVE cake challenges.

I love the endless possibilities cake decorating has to offer and I love bringing a smile to someone's face when they see their vision brought to life. Or the joy a child has when their cake is brought into the room! My artistic career may have taken a slight detour but I wouldn't have done it any different! It is an exciting and rewarding profession to be in!