About the Artist

I live with my husband and teenage boys in the wine country north of San Francisco. An art studio a few paces from the house is bordered by apple trees and a chicken coop. Phil the cat follows me around all day and a multitude of birds, from hummingbirds and goldfinches to hawks frequent my home and build nests in tree hollows and the many birdhouses I’ve put out for them.

Years ago, after I had just started painting, I was driving around the countryside looking for subjects to paint and happened upon a herd of angora goats grazing. For years those goats, and later the pets of my friends, fueled my intense desire to paint. Over the years I have incorporated animals in my landscape and abstract paintings and have found endless satisfaction in creating commissioned portraits of beloved pets. Here in the countryside my clients have also ordered farm animal pets portraits.

After many years of work as a counselor and social worker I rediscovered a childhood love of drawing and painting. I immersed myself in watercolor painting, studying extensively with nationally known teachers. Over a period of two years I received intensive coaching in the creation of illustrations for my first published book, The Great Hiss, (released Spring 2002), about a cobra snake. My published poster art has featured chickens, cows and dogs.

For the past eleven years I have taught painting workshops and exhibited my paintings in one-person and group shows throughout the country, receiving a variety of painting commissions, from corporate to poster art. Most recently I have been posting my animal and other sketchbook art and paintings on my art blog:

http://susancornelis.wordpress.com

To see my fine art paintings and to learn about my workshops on sketchbooking and creativity in painting visit my website:

http://www.imaginewithart.com