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Susan has combined her BA in studio art with her lifelong knowledge of animals to produce paintings and portraits that are both realistic in style and contemporary in design and composition. She does most of her work life-size because she likes the dramatic effects. Her work includes many portraits of top show horses and dogs as well as family pets.
Van Wagoner meticulously transmits the animal's personality as well as its demeanor. She often begins by painting the eyes, because, she says, "then the portrait comes alive."
- Town and Country Magazine
Susan works very personally with a small number of clients a year. She travels to meet with clients and works from her own photographs and notes. Her work includes life-size paintings and portraits of dogs, horses, and cats as well as cows, chickens, pigs, and other animals.
"I draw and paint animals because I love them. I am fascinated by their bone structure, muscle definition, and even the direction of hair growth. When I do commissioned portraits, I spend time with the animals and photograph them extensively. I am as concerned about capturing the individual personality of a subject as I am its physical characteristics."
- Susan Van Wagoner
Susan lives in the Virginia countryside near Middleburg, the heart of horse country in the US. She shares much of her time with one large and very happy dog, three cats and two horses.
For information on commissioned portraits contact Susan Van Wagoner at 540-253-5510 or e-mail: svan@erols.com
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