About the Artist
Suzy “Vivi” Cardell
Suzy “Vivi” Cardell is a deaf artist, based in Central Florida. Despite being mainstreamed into public school, being a deaf person, raised in a deaf household, can be isolating. Painting was a way for Suzy to express herself, to share her love for animals, and to connect with others. While she is a skilled artist in several mediums, she excels at paintings pet portraits. She usually works from photographs and paints with acrylic on canvas. Suzy would love to eventually see her work featured in galleries, but her greatest satisfaction comes from her seeing her art hanging in her clients’ homes.
Artist Statement
I have always been interested in art, and inspired by great artists like Salvador Dali. But my first art instructor was my mother, who encouraged me to try various artistic mediums and to find every opportunity to express myself artistically. Because of her, I also love to teach art.
Our family is a “cat family”. Of course it was always devastating to lose a pet, so I wanted to have some sort of permanent memorial that would keep the spirits of our pets alive forever. This is why I began painting pet portraits. It started with cats and dogs, but I love to challenge myself, so I didn’t hesitate when I was asked to paint a flock of chickens. I can’t wait to see what my next pet challenge will be. I love to see the joy that my paintings bring to families. If you like my style of work, please contact me and I’d be thrilled to work with you to create a special portrait for your family.