an abstract photo of a curved building with a blue sky in the background

Amy Sunderman Art

Portraits * Landscapes * Still Life * Illustrations * Murals

"There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."
Vincent Van Gogh

"Art is to console those who are broken by life."
Vincent Van Gogh

"Forget art. Put your trust in ice cream."
Charles Baxter

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."
Twyla Tharp

Every morning I sit outside on the front porch of my old house in the Sierra Nevada foothills with a steaming mug of freshly ground coffee & let Nature fill me with her magic. The wilder the weather, the better.

Art speaks to me in quiet ways through all my senses: the warm rough surface of the hand-thrown ceramic cup I'm holding; the sounds & scents of incoming weather; the chirping of night insects & morning birds; distant voices of neighbors awakening & dogs barking; first light slanting up the pine trees; the changing colors as night transforms into day; the patina of our elders with stories etched upon their faces; the sweetness of children; the purity of animals; the chaotic beauty of Nature . . . I'm blessed to see the world as a photographer does - through a lens, in framed compositions.

I loved fairy tale illustrations as a kid & used to seek out quiet places - canyons, tree branches & secret forts - to draw. My fondest Christmas memory is sitting in an old red chair with a new sketchpad & box of crayons, listening to the celebratory chorus of my family opening packages, while I became one with the chair & took a journey into the blank pages. I worked 7 years as a portrait & caricature artist at Disneyland, 15 years as a caricaturist in the private sector, and 20 years as a geriatric nurse. I began this painting journey just after Covid in 2023.

My work is inspired by a love for people, Nature, diverse cultures; a passion for music, dance, words & the traditions that connect us to one another. Working in oils, acrylics, mixed media, pen/ink/markers/watercolor allows me to choose the language that best expresses each idea - sometimes realistic, other times whimsical or illustrative. I hope my art offers a moment of peace, sparks the imagination & reminds us that the world is richer, kinder & more extraordinary than we sometimes perceive. If someone leaves one of my paintings feeling a little more hopeful, a little more connected, or simply smiling, then the painting has fulfilled it's purpose.

Amy

Listen on Apple Music

**People * Pets * Homes**

Portraits

"Iris Fairy"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift for a dear friend who loves irises

"Iris Fairy"
Detail
This is an example of an "illustrative portrait" which can resemble an illustration from a favorite story book.

"Dandelion Fairy"
Acrylic on canvas
Another example of an "illustrative portrait"
Sold

"On Fire"
For a special boy who loves the Oakland A's
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

"Friends"
For a special girl who loves panda bears
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

"Woodland Fairy"
Study for a custom portrait
Acrylic on canvas
20x24x1.25"
$720

"Imari"
Oil on canvas
With a face like this, he just had to be an elf.
Gift

"El"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

"Ruby"
Oil on canvas
Gift

This is my partner's mother who was full blooded "Siakumne", indigenous to central & Northern California.

"Roy"
Oil on canvas
Gift

This is my partner's father, who was of Swedish descent & worked in the "log woods" of Minnesota & California.

"Susan & Baxter"
Oil on canvas
Sold

Memorial portrait of Susan who loved the color red and was seldom separated from her beloved cat, Baxter.

"Kathleen"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

"Floating"
Acrylic on canvas
12x12x1/2"
3/4" black frame
$165

"Gayle"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

This is my friend Gayle who loves to spend time outdoors, camping & kayaking with her 2 dogs (doggie #3 is home sleeping in Dad's favorite chair) and family in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

"Lynnie"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

Birthday portrait for my talented sister who is also a new painter, crafter, seamstress, cake decorator and elementary school teacher.

"Joshua"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

For a boy who loves cheetahs, T-ball & the color RED

"Denise"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

Birthday portrait of my art teacher who honors our local Yuba River in her paintings. Her birthday is in February, thus the chickadees and violets. Shown on the Buttermilk Trail, which runs above the Yuba River.

"Firemakers"
Acrylic on canvas
Sold

"4000 Mile Migration"
Acrylic on canvas
16x20x1.25"
$480

Did you know Monarch Butterflies can fly 4000 miles with their fragile wings? I plant milkweed in my garden to support them.

"Kaamisha"
(Happy Soul in Afghan)
Acrylic on canvas
11x14x1/25"
$230

"Reminiscing"
Acrylic on canvas
8x10x1.25"
$120
Example of an "illustrative" portrait

"John"
Pen/ink/marker/colored pencil
Gift

This is a caricature of our tour guide extraordinaire in Ireland. He was a walking history book with a delightful, wickedly irreverent sense of humor.

"Sandy"
Oil on canvas
Sold

Memorial portrait of a beloved little dog who loved to chase birds, bugs and anything that moved.

"Ginger"
Oil on canvas
Sold

Memorial portrait of a sweet little dog who loved to snuggle on Mom's lap. Mom likes hummingbirds.

"Catnap"
Oil on canvas
16x20x1/2"
3/4" navy blue wood frame
$550

"Sunday Morning Plein Air at Jill's House"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

"Nickie's Dream House"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift for my dear friend who moved way too far away . . .

"Hideaway"
Acrylic on canvas
9x12x1/2"
$160

Custom Portraits

What makes you YOU? What do you love to do: favorite activity, color, animal, hobby, memory? I gather information & incorporate some of those ideas into an imaginative custom portrait of you, a loved one, beloved pet or home. Each painting is a unique, individualized keepsake in acrylic, oil or pen & ink. You choose the medium & size & whether you prefer a traditional style portrait or an "illustrative" portrait. These are hand-painted original works of art, not digital or AI.

"Ain't nothing like the real thing baby ..."
Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye

Request a Custom Portrait

Testimonials

"I am absolutely in love with the portrait that Amy painted of me! She somehow managed to represent not only me, but the very essence of who I am and what I love. I could not have asked for a more meaningful portrayal of me!"

Gayle Baker
Teacher
Painter

"Amy's painting...heartwarming and magical! Amy and I met in a painting class and I invited her to my home to paint outdoors to further our friendship. I enjoyed her gentle, humble and sincere spirit. We had a nice morning painting and visiting. A few weeks after our time together, much to my surprise, I was gifted a very precious piece of art... my home's portrait! I've hung it proudly and it warms my heart. Amy sees and paints the beauty and magic in people, places and pets. Thank you, Amy..."

Jill Poole
Retired Owner of a Catering Service
Painter
Horse Lover & Rescuer

"Amy Sunderman is a gifted artist who takes portraiture to a whole new level. Amy is a master of lighting, mood, color, and composition. As a lover of nature, she often incorporates wondrous, natural backgrounds into her paintings. While she captures a subject's essence beautifully, she also weaves a magical visual story of their life within each piece.

Denise Wey
Art Educator
Painter of the Yuba River Nevada County, CA

Landscapes * Still-Life * Illustration

"Pink Moon"
Acrylic on canvas
12x12x1/2"
$220

My sister surprised me with a trip to Ireland for my 70th birthday. This is Moll's Gap, on the pass to Killarney. It overlooks the Black Valley (which got electricity in 1976) and the distant ocean. The wind was so strong we could barely stand erect. As we were admiring the view, the sky split open and deluged us with rain, cleared up just as suddenly and 2 rainbows stretched across the sky. A magical place!

"Golden Creek"
Acrylic on canvas
11x14x1.25"
$230

"Cork Cafe"
Oil on canvas
14x18x1/2"
$380

I was impressed with the diversity in IRL. Everyone I spoke with said they felt welcome. Don't make the mistake of ordering the wrong beer: It's Guinness in Dublin and Murphy's or Beamish in Cork! There is a long standing regional rivalry, all in good humor.

"Irish Farmers"
Oil on canvas
Sold

"Breaktime"
Oil on canvas
8x10x1/2"
$120
This was right next to the Waterford Crystal Factory, IRL.

"The Secret Stairway"
Oil on canvas
9x12x1/2"
$165

Inside Blarney Castle is a blocked off staircase that fired up my imagination: What magic is up there?

"Old Grandmother"
Oil on canvas

Thanks to my sister for this reference photo taken at Connemara, IRL. I was in the hotel room with Covid.

"Old Road to Oma's"
Acrylic on canvas
16x20x1/2"
$480

"Gleann Alainn (Beautiful Valley)"
Acrylic on canvas
11x14x1/2"
3/4" brown wood frame
$250

These molds were scattered across the workroom at the Waterford Crystal Factory in IRL. I thought they were even more beautiful than the crystal pieces.

"Waterford Crystal Wooden Molds"
Acrylic/Mixed Media on canvas
8x10x1.25"
NFS
If interested, I can order a giclee print. DM me for current price/size

"English Market at Cork, IRL"
Oil on canvas
16x20x1/2"
1/4" brown frame
$325

"Hindsight"
Acrylic on canvas
8x10x1.25"
$120

"Up River"
Acrylic on canvas
Sold

"Sidhe (secret place where wee folk gather)"
Acrylic on canvas
12x16x1.25"
$300

"Full Moon Over Moody Ridge"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

"Sierra Snow"
Acrylic on canvas
8x10x1.25"
$120

I took a screen shot from a Nature show showing these polar bears struggling to survive, walking across tundra that should be white with snow. Their foreboding long shadows seemed to represent their dire fate in the face of human expansion & global warming.

"Lost Habitat"
Acrylic on canvas
22x30x1/2"
$900

"Old Barn"
Acrylic on canvas
8x10x1.25"
$120

"Saturday Skate"
Acrylic on canvas
11x14x1.25"
$230

"Tropical Mermaid"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

"Water Spirit"
Acrylic on canvas
Sold

"Emerald Pool"
Acrylic on canvas
11x14x1/2"
$230

"Portal"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

"Almost Home"
Acrylic on canvas
12x16x1.25"
$300

"Protectors"
Acrylic on canvas
12x24x1/2"
1-3/8" custom "antique gold" frame
$500
The inspiration for this was from a Nature show on PBS that showed these gorgeous jellyfish.

"Farm Next Door"
Acrylic on canvas
12x12x1.25"
$220

"After The Ceremony"
Acrylic on canvas
Gift

This is a traditional, partially bermed "Maidu" house my partner built out of oak trees and cedar bark.

"Simple Treasures"
Oil on canvas
16x20x1/2"
$480

1 card = $5
Pack of 5 cards = $22
Pack of 10 cards = $40

Please allow 2 weeks+ for bulk orders

4.6 x 7.2" or 5.5 x 4" * GLOSSY FINISH * White Envelope * Blank inside unless otherwise stated

Greeting & Holiday Cards

Front: "Stand Strong"

Front: "Rhythm"

Front: "Breaking Rhythm"

Front: "Zen" (or is it my sewing machine?)

Front: "Moving Forward"

Some of these black & white cards are torn paper collages made in a design class. The instructor challenged us to create a visual image to represent an abstract idea, like: rhythm; breaking rhythm; movement; emphasis; etc.