Meet Vanessa Thorman

Vanessa Thorman is a self-taught watercolor artist known for her intricate, lifelike portraits of birds and wildlife. She began painting during the COVID-19 pandemic, after trying a watercolor tutorial at the urging of her daughter—and quickly fell in love with the medium. In just five years, her dedication and skill have earned her national recognition, including First Place at the Mark Arts National Watercolor Exhibition and the ScholARTship Award from the National Watercolor Society. 

As a child, Vanessa preferred the company of animals to navigating human social scenes, finding solace in their companionship, unconditional love, and acceptance. Her artwork serves as a heartfelt tribute to their presence in her life.

"I paint what’s already here, but too often missed. The birds and animals I portray live among us, but we rarely stop long enough to really see them. I want this beauty to belong to everyone. I hope to create an experience through my work—a quiet moment of connection with something wild and real.

To me, they are not just subjects. They real, feeling creatures—curious, proud, cautious, bold. They are intelligent. They are funny. They are sometimes awkward, sometimes fierce. And they matter. I paint them because I love them, and I want others to love them too.

I know my work isn’t avant-garde. But I believe there is gravity in simplicity—in honest observation, and in reverence. We don’t protect what we don’t see. But once we truly see—once we recognize something of ourselves in another form—we can’t help but care."

-Vanessa