Artist
Cynthia Feustel
United States
Born in 1957
Joined Artisor: February 2024
Bio
CYNTHIA FEUSTEL (b.1957) is an oil painter primarily known for her portrait and figurative work. Whether capturing an introspective moment of a figure or the quiet stillness in an arrangement of treasured objects, the subjects in her paintings are sensitively rendered inviting viewers into the narratives she portrays. Pattern, texture and gracefulness of form are all elements that inspire her work, but it is words like serenity, quietude, and stillness that express the contemplative feeling of the work. Having been a traditional portrait artist for 25 years, her attention to detail is evident. Adhering to the time-honored method of building up multiple layers of paint over an initial underpainting, her work merges the classical tradition of oil painting with images that reveal a fresh, contemporary expression. Born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, Cynthia was not exposed to the culture of fine arts. But even without museums and galleries as inspiration, she heard the calling from the artist within. She studied art at Penn State University before receiving her degree in Fashion Illustration from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Even then the idea of drawing the human form was intriguing to her. What she learned about anatomy and how the figure moves created a foundational basis for her later portrait and figurative works. After following a career in graphic design she turned her attention to fine art painting. Largely self-taught and fueled by the belief that one should never stop learning, she states, “I became an artistic sponge, absorbing every bit of information I could. This path caused me to search deep within myself to define my artistic voice.” From 1999 until 2009 Cynthia worked full time as a commissioned portrait artist. She also maintained a large factory loft studio in Pennsylvania where she taught classes and workshops year round. Then in 2009, Cynthia and her husband moved from Pennsylvania to Colorado. The move kicked off a journey to define herself and her work. Mastery of light, color, and composition paired with emotionally evocative moods has garnered her work significant awards. She holds Master Signature status in American Women Artists, is a Signature member in NOAPS and Oil Painter’s of America, with juried memberships in International Guild of Realism and WAOW. Her work has been featured in national art publications and exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States. She is represented by McBride Gallery in Annapolis, MD.
- Artworks
- Curriculum Vitae
No current artwork for sale
AFFILIATIONS:
American Women Artists- Master Signature Member
National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society- Signature Member
International Guild of Realism
Oil Painter’s of America – Signature Member
Women Artist’s of the West
AWARDS:
2021 Award of Excellence, NOAPS Best of America Small Works Show
2021 Award of Excellence, Women Artists of the West, 2021 National Exhibition
2020 Award of Excellence, American Women Artists National Exhibition
2020 SECOND PLACE, Women Artists of the West National Exhibition
2018 BEST of SHOW, Women Artists of the West National Exhibition
2018 Award for Figurative Excellence, Women Artists of the West National Exhibition
2018 FIRST PLACE, Rocky Mountain Horse Expo’s 9th Annual Art Show
2017 Merit Award, Women Artists of the West National Exhibition
2016 Award of Excellence, Oil Painter’s of America Salon Show
2016 Award of Excellence, American Women Artists National Exhibition
2016 FIRST PLACE Master Class, Art Muse Competition
2016 Award of Excellence, NOAPS Spring International On-Line Exhibition
2016 Finalist, American Women Artists Spring Online Juried Show
2015 Finalist, NOAPS, International Online Salon
2012 Finalist, Figurative Category, Art Renewal Center International ARC Salon
2012 SECOND Place Award, FASO/Bold Brush Competition, December
2012 Honors Award, Southwest Art Magazine Artistic Excellence Competition
2011 Finalist, International Artist Magazine, December issue
2011 Finalist, Southwest Art Magazine Artistic Excellence Competition
2010 Finalist, Figurative Category, Art Renewal Center International ARC Salon
2011 Honorable Mention, The Artist’s Magazine, All-Media Online Competition
2010 Top 50 Finalist, Southwest Art Magazine “Over 31 Competition”, November
2010 Finalist, Fine Art Views (Bold Brush), November
2010 Finalist, Raymar Fine Art Competition, November
2010 Finalist, Raymar Fine Art Competition, October
2010 Honors Award, Inspiring Figures, Butler Institute of American Art
2010 Finalist, International Artist Magazine, August
2010 Finalist, Raymar Fine Art Competition, June
PUBLICATIONS:
Southwest Art Magazine, March/April 2021, “Heart and Soul”, six-page feature article
Fine Art Connoisseur – December 2020, “Three to Watch”
Art of the West – January/February 2019, “Poetry in Paint”, four-page feature article
Southwest Art Magazine – November 2017, “Women Artists of the West”
Fine Art Connoisseur – December 2016, “The Enduring Appeal of Youth”
Western Art Collector – October 2015, “Traveling the West”
Southwest Art Magazine – December 2012, “Artistic Excellence” winners
Southwest Art Magazine – January 2012, “The Human Experience”
International Artist Magazine – December/January 2012
International Artist Magazine – August/September 2010
EXHIBITIONS:
2024 (Including Upcoming Shows)
International Guild of Realism 18th Annual Exhibition, T.H. Brennan Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2023
NOAPS Best of America National Exhibition, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
International Guild of Realism 17th Annual Exhibition, Sugarman-Peterson Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
NOAPS Best of America Small Works National (Awards Judge), Mary Williams Fine Art, Boulder, CO
American Women Artists National Exhibition, Brookgreen Gardens, SC
Gratitude Exhibition 5th Annual, Kreuser Gallery, Colorado Springs, CO
2022
NOAPS Best of America Small Works 2022 National, Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
American Women Artists National Exhibition 2022, Customs House Museum, Clarksville, TN
2021
NOAPS Best of America Small Works 2021 National, Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
International Guild of Realism Spring Salon Exhibition 2021
Gratitude Exhibition 3rd Annual, Kreuser Gallery, Colorado Springs, CO
2020
American Artists Professional League 92nd Grand National Exhibition
International Guild of Realism Annual Exhibition, Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
Oil Painter’s of America 2020 National Exhibition, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX
International Guild of Realism Spring Salon Exhibition 2020
NOAPS Best of America Small Works 2020 National, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
American Women Artists, Booth Museum of Western Art, Cartersville, GA
Women Artists of the West 50th National Exhibition, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, AZ
Gratitude Exhibition, Kreuser Gallery, Colorado Springs, CO
2019
A Tradition of Excellence: American Women Artists, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX
McBride Gallery, “Small Gems”, Annapolis, MD
West Wind Fine Art, Holiday Open House. Keene, NH
National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society (NOAPS) Fall International Online Exhibition
Heartland Invitational: A Survey of Excellence, St. Louis, MO
NOAPS Best of America, Montgomery-Lee Gallery, Park City, UT
McBride Gallery, “Tonalism, Impressionism and Perceptualism”, Annapolis, MD
American Women Artists, “Looking West”, Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
Oil Painter’s of America 2019 National Exhibition, Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George UT
West Wind Fine Art, Spring Open House, Colorado Springs, CO
2018
National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society 2018 International Fall Online Exhibition
Mountain Oyster Club Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Small Works Great Wonders Art Sale, Oklahoma City, OK,
NOAPS Best of America National Exhibition, Eisele Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, 2018
Women Artists of the West 48th National Exhibition, Price Tower Arts Center, Bartlesville, OK
West Wind Fine Art, “Figures, Flowers & Delightful Friends”, Colorado Springs, CO
American Women Artists Illuminate the Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
Oil Painter’s of America National Exhibition, Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
McBride Gallery, The Art of Story Telling: A Narrative Show, Annapolis, MD
NOAPS Best of America Small Works National, Richland Fine Art, Nashville, TN
American Impressionists Society Small Works, Greenwich House Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Montana Miniatures Show, Out West Art Show, Great Falls, MT
Rocky Mountain Horse Expo’s 9th Annual Art Show, National Western Complex, Denver, CO
Arts at Denver Gallery, Annual Valentine’s Show, Denver, CO
2017
Women Artists of the West (WAOW) 47th National Exhibition, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
Mountain Oyster Club Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
Miniatures by the Lake Show, Coeur d’Alene Galleries, Sept 2017, Coeur d’Alene, ID
Montana Miniatures Show, Great Falls, MT
Art Muse Exhibition, Jack Meier Gallery, Huston, TX
2016
Oil Painter’s of America 2016 Western Regional Marshall Gallery of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
Oil Painter’s of America 2016 Salon Exhibition, Castle Gallery Fine Art, Fort Wayne, IN
American Women Artists 2016 National, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
Miniatures by the Lake Show, Coeur d’Alene Galleries, Coeur d’Alene, ID
Out West Art Show and Sale, Great Falls, MT
2015
Traveling the West Art Show, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
Oil Painter’s of America 2015 Western Exhibition, Wild Horse Gallery, Steamboat Springs, CO
Rawhide and Spurs, Mountain Trails Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
2014
Art For Life, 2014, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO,
Oil Painter’s of America 2014 Western Regional, Mountainsong Galleries, Carmel, CA
2010-2013
Oil Painter’s of America 2013 Juried Salon, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
Solo Exhibition, February 2013, Rip Caswell Gallery, Troutdale, OR
Oil Painter’s of America 2012 Western Regional Exhibition, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
Oil Painter’s of America 2011 Western Regional, Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga, CA
Solo Exhibition, July 2011, Turpin Gallery, Jackson, WY
Oil Painter’s of America 2011 National Exhibition, Devin Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID
Salon International 2011 Juried Exhibition, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Salon International 2010 Juried Exhibition, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Inspiring Figures, Portrait Society of America, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH
Oil Painter’s of America 2010 Western Regional, Mountain Trails Gallery, Jackson, WY