Vanessa Magdaleno Thorman

 Something many people don’t realize about my work is that each painting begins with a real bird or animal — a creature whose eyes, posture, or expression caught my attention and I knew I had to paint them.

From a simple outline, I begin the slow, deliberate process of layering watercolor — wash by wash — to build depth, texture, and light. I use only the highest-quality professional paints on 100% cotton, cold-pressed paper, crafted for centuries by European mills. The result is a collection of original paintings that aim to capture not just the physical likeness, but the spirit and presence of each animal that inspired them.