About Romilly Mueller
Learn More About My Work
My thoughts:
My work lives in the quiet moments most people walk past — the tabby cat dozing in a patch of afternoon sun, the frog living under the porch or making friends with your cat at the window, the wren couple that takes over your hanging baskets on your porch whether you invited them or not. I paint cats and local wildlife in acrylic, watercolor, and pen and ink because these creatures share our world on their own terms, completely indifferent to our schedules and opinions. There's a whole negotiated society happening at the edges of our yards and windowsills, and I've spent a lifetime watching it. My background in anthropology means I look at animal behavior the way an ethnographer might — trying not to project, just observe — and then I try to transfer that truth onto paper or canvas. These aren't pets posed for portraits. They're individuals, caught being exactly themselves.
My Inspiration:
I'm owned by five cats, and they inspire me daily with their grace, mystery and independence. In my current work, I strive to capture that beauty, as well as that of the natural world around us: its balance and its inherent freedom. My cats, especially MillieMae, my dilute calico, creates a bridge between the domestic and the wild, and reminds me what rebellion and freedom is as she pulls books off shelves, changes the angle of the paintings on my wall, and, frankly, redesigns my house on a daily basis. I aim in my art to capture some of that spirit of rebellion, as well as the peace and calm these creatures and the natural world surrounding us bring me.
Process:
Most of my process occurs in my head: observation, research on the world around me, just thinking. That expands into taking photos for reference and collecting photos from copyright free reference sites that I subscribe to. I no longer paint or draw anything exactly as I see it, but rather work into how I perceive it. Loose pen strokes, loose brush strokes bring out the souls and the lives of the animals I portray.
For collaborations, commissions, or exhibition inquiries – reach out anytime.
For love of Animals and Nature
Gallery
Based in Fuquay-Varina, NC, USA
info@studioderomilly.com
© 2026 G. Romilly Mueller. All Rights Reserved.