User:Janealkon

Jane Elizabeth Alkon (born June 9, 1956) is an American author and artist.

Alkon is the author of Mr. Boy, the first in a series of books about her Labrador retriever. Mr. Boy is Alkon’s second published work and combines Alkon’s artistic background with her love of writing and passion for her dog, Andy. An award-winning metalsmith and self-taught painter and woodworker, Alkon is also the author of Elements - Art and Design, a retrospective of her work of over 20 years as a handcraft artist.

Family, Childhood and Education:

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Alkon grew up in Huntington Woods, a suburb of Detroit, and is the middle of three children. After attending high school in Royal Oak, Michigan, Alkon went on to Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 1978. She continued her post-graduate studies at Michigan State University, earning a Master’s Degree in Labor and Industrial Relations in 1979.

Business Background:

After receiving her Master’s Degree, Alkon worked in personnel management and human resources as a liaison between recently graduated physicians and health care facilities.

As a result of her background in labor relations, arbitration and negotiation, Alkon was selected by the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Detroit to join other industry professionals in participating in an innovative program as a volunteer arbitrator in disputes between consumers and Fortune 500 automotive vendors.

Continuing with a business orientation, Alkon became an Associate Broker in real estate and began working with her father, Leonard Alkon, at Len Alkon Group, the family commercial real estate business in metropolitan Detroit, eventually becoming an owner and partner in the business.

As an Author:

Inspired by the love of her dog, Andy, Alkon’s easy-going, natural writing style and her creative background provided the perfect foundation for a second literary venture.

Mr. Boy features real-life stories and actual experiences of an owner of a Labrador retriever in a suburban home setting. Alkon’s vivid photographs of her dog, coupled with her personal stories, give the reader a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of living a dog’s life.

A lifelong dog owner, Alkon has pursued her interest in homeopathic and holistic veterinary care in a lay capacity and was co-founder of WholePetNet, LLC, an online veterinary care and advice site. Alkon has been a long-time supporter of Paws with a Cause, providing service dogs to people with disabilities and is an ardent supporter of Patriotic Paws Service Dogs, serving disabled American veterans. Together with her dog Andy, Alkon is a member of the Pet-a-Pet Club, providing pet therapy in the Detroit area through hospital and nursing care visits.

As an Artist:

Alkon is a mixed media artist whose primary area of concentration is handcrafts and functional art. She was trained in metalsmithing at Michigan State University and the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center in Birmingham, Michigan. Alkon was honored with “First Place in Metalsmithing and Jewelry” at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center for her handcrafted sterling silver spoons.

Alkon has completed numerous workshops including welding, ceramic tile making, glass etching, papermaking, paper marbling, cartooning and handbound book making.

Alkon actively shares her love of art and handcrafts through teaching elementary and middle school students in suburban Michigan communities and in providing private lessons to children and adults.

Alkon was invited to be a featured artist in a one-woman show in Southfield, Michigan, which highlighted her work in gold and silver jewelry and her handcrafted and handpainted wooden box constructions. Alkon’s work is represented in several private art collections in California, New York, and Washington, D.C. and corporate art collections in Chicago, London and Amsterdam.

Jane Alkon lives in Southeast Michigan with her Labrador retriever, Andy.