Award-Winning Wildlife Artist

It's all about the eyes...

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Vanessa Magdaleno Thorman

I create highly detailed watercolor portraits that celebrate the beauty, personality, and individuality of wildlife. 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.

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.

  • National Watercolor Society Exhibition

    Recipient of the 2025 ScholARTship Award from the National Watercolor Society for Belle of the Ball.

  • Georgia Watercolor Society National Exhibition

    Recipient of the 2026 Holbein Artists Materials Award which recognizes outstanding achievement in watermedia.

  • First Place - National Watercolor Exhibition

    Winner of the Best in Show prize at the 2024 Mark Arts National Watercolor Exhibition.