As a child in the small east Texas town of Royse City, Cornelius began to draw as soon as he could hold a pencil. Before long, and with the help and e...ncouragement of his mother, he began to create illustrated books from folded paper bags. Another favorite activity was drawing on a blackboard his mother hung in the kitchen just for him.
A graduate of East Texas State University where he majored in graphic design, Cornelius enjoyed the strong university art program. Like many 1970s art students he was a fan of the surrealist painters Salvador Dali and Max Ernst, as well as pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. A big influence on his work then was the original Spider-Man artist, Steve Ditko, and comics icon Jack Kirby. Today he adds David Hockney, Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and Maynard Dixon to his list of favorite and influential painters.
Throughout his career as a graphic artist, Cornelius continued to exhibit his personal non-commissioned paintings. Since 2001 his work has been shown in eleven one-man shows and fifty-five group exhibitions throughout the West.
After his first extended visit to New Mexico in the mid-1990s, his subject matter expanded to include mountains and the related subjects he loves. Birds, bears, jackrabbits, coyotes, mountain wildflowers, and the architecture of rural New Mexico rendered in his unique and colorful style never fail to delight the viewer.
The artist divides his time between Taos and Dallas, where he teaches in the art department of Dallas College.
These are samples of Ray-Mel's paintings, limited edition prints, and graphic works. More of his work can be found on his website.
Thanks for taking a look.
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Ray-mel Cornelius
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- Images from main Gallery
- Galleries
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Ray-mel CorneliusSaguaro Jackrabbit16 by 16 inches, acrylic on canvas Jane Hamilton Fine Art Tucson, AZ© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusVeedon Sheep14 by 11 inches, acrylic on canvas Jane Hamilton Fine Art Tucson, AZ© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusMockingbird with Scattered Clouds9 by 12 inches, acrylic on canvas© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusFlying Machine Over Abiquiu12 by 9 inches, acrylic on canvas© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusFlying Machine Over A Floral Landscape12 by 9 inches, acrylic on canvas© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusJackrabbit Rex30 by 24 inches, acrylic on canvas© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusHalf Moon Bison24 by 24 inches, acrylic on canvas© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusJackrabbit with Tumbleweeds16 by 20 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusSnow Bear18 by 14 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusBlack Bear with Apricot Tree18 by 14 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusJackrabbit, Rocks and Hollyhocks18 by 14 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusShapes in the Clouds9 by 12 inches, acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusWild Iris24 by 18 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art, Taos, NM© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmospheric Flying Machine V8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmospheric Flying Machine IV8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmospheric Flying Machine III8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmospheric Flying Machine II8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmospheric Flying Machine I8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmospheric Flying Machine8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmosphere with Windmills30 by 40 inches, acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art Dallas, TX© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmosphere with Collinwood20 by 16 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmosphere with Dog Walker14 by 11 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmosphere with Mountain Man24 by 18 inches, acrylic on canvas Collection of Mercedes Benz© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmosphere with Diner Sign18 by 24 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmosphere with Pool and Fireflies14 by 11 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusAtmosphere with Painted Sails14 by 11 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusCardinal with Haiku24 by 30 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusMockingbird with Haiku30 by 40 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusHummingbird with Haiku24 by 30 inches acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art Dallas, TX© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusCactus Jackrabbit20 by 16 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusHowling Moon20 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusWanderers Creek16 by 16 inches acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusCactus Bloom24 by 24 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusMoonflower with Haiku48 by 36 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusWildflower in the Breeze18 by 24 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusDragonfly with Haiku18 by 36 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusBee in Flight48 by 72 inches acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art Dallas, TX© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusSnail with Haiku16 by 20 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusLarge Animal on a Small Canvas 18 by 10 inches acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art Dallas, TX© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusLarge Animal on a Small Canvas 28 by 10 inches acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art Dallas, TX© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusSmall Coastal Landscape8 by 10 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusSmall Seaside Landscape8 by 10 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusReinhardt Elementary MuralA special project, this mural was created digitally, printed on Dibond aluminum and attached to the walls at the Reinhardt Elementary School in Dallas, TX. Overall size: Left - 12 by 32 ft. Right - 12 by 24 ft.© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusState Bird: CA5 by 7 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
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Ray-mel CorneliusMountain Bluejay20 by 16 acrylic on canvas Copper Moon Gallery Taos, NM© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius