CYNTHIA FEUSTEL 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. 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. She is largely self-taught and fueled by the belief that one should never stop learning. "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.”

 Cynthia worked full time as a commissioned portrait artist from 1999 until 2009 . 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.

 Cynthia’s attention to 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, along with juried memberships in International Guild of Realism and Women Artists of the West. 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.