Fine Artist

Ray-mel Cornelius

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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.

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Images from main Gallery
Galleries

Ray-mel Cornelius

Saguaro Jackrabbit

16 by 16 inches, acrylic on canvas Jane Hamilton Fine Art Tucson, AZ

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Veedon Sheep

14 by 11 inches, acrylic on canvas Jane Hamilton Fine Art Tucson, AZ

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Jackrabbit with Tumbleweeds

16 by 20 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Snow Bear

18 by 14 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Black Bear with Apricot Tree

18 by 14 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Jackrabbit, Rocks and Hollyhocks

18 by 14 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Wild Iris

24 by 18 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art, Taos, NM

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmospheric Flying Machine V

8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmospheric Flying Machine IV

8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmospheric Flying Machine III

8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmospheric Flying Machine II

8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmospheric Flying Machine I

8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmospheric Flying Machine

8 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmosphere with Windmills

30 by 40 inches, acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art Dallas, TX

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmosphere with Collinwood

20 by 16 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmosphere with Dog Walker

14 by 11 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmosphere with Mountain Man

24 by 18 inches, acrylic on canvas Collection of Mercedes Benz

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmosphere with Diner Sign

18 by 24 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmosphere with Pool and Fireflies

14 by 11 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Atmosphere with Painted Sails

14 by 11 inches, acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Cardinal with Haiku

24 by 30 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Mockingbird with Haiku

30 by 40 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Hummingbird with Haiku

24 by 30 inches acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art Dallas, TX

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Howling Moon

20 by 10 inches, acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Wanderers Creek

16 by 16 inches acrylic on canvas David Anthony Fine Art Taos, NM

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Wildflower in the Breeze

18 by 24 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Large Animal on a Small Canvas 1

8 by 10 inches acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art Dallas, TX

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Large Animal on a Small Canvas 2

8 by 10 inches acrylic on canvas Ro2 Art Dallas, TX

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Small Coastal Landscape

8 by 10 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Small Seaside Landscape

8 by 10 inches acrylic on canvas Private collection

© 2023 Ray-mel Cornelius
Ray-mel Cornelius

Reinhardt Elementary Mural

A 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