Gabriele Koenig Rewis

Animal art is as old as humanity itself. Some of the earliest depictions of animals can be found in the cave paintings of Lascaux, Altamira, and Sulawesi. These images are incredibly detailed and colorful and show our ancestors’ interaction with wildlife. As civilization developed, some animals were domesticated and became human companions, while ancient gods in Egypt and elsewhere started blending animal traits or physical characteristics with the human form to represent strength, wisdom, fertility, and other specific divine powers. 

Throughout the centuries, generations of artists in many cultures depicted animals, big and small, to show human appreciation (and sometimes adoration) for them. They tried to capture anatomical features but also expressiveness and personality, grace and spirit, outer and inner beauty.

 As a 21^st century painter, I am standing on the shoulders of giants. Painting animals is, however, a wonderful challenge. Dog and Cat hair is very different from scales or feathers. Plus, each animal is unique. They have their own personality, spirits, and expressions, which I try to capture in each painting. Preserving cherished memories brings me immense joy, and I tend to fall in love with each animal I paint. Leonardo da Vinci wrote that “the smallest feline is a masterpiece.” For me, every creature has a soul, an inner beauty, a story to be told, and each one is indeed a masterpiece. I strongly believe that animals give meaning to our lives and make us better humans.

Commissions:

A limited number of private commissions are available through Bonner David Galleries (Scottsdale and New York) only. Please contact the gallery for more details or email art@bonnerdavid.com.