Liz Paganelli

Woman smiling while drawing a dog in an art studio.

About the Artist

Liz Paganelli has lived and worked in the Lake Tahoe area for over thirty years. She earned a BFA from the California College of the Arts and an MA from John F. Kennedy University, and studied printmaking at the Kala Institute in Berkeley, California, and the Santa Reparata Graphic Center in Florence, Italy.

Her work is currently on display at Piper J Gallery and Ridgeline Gallery in Truckee, California.

Woman holding a landscape drawing, surrounded by art supplies.

Rooted in the Natural World

Her illustration work is rooted in close observation of the natural world, inspired by the landscapes, wildlife, and seasonal changes of the Sierra Nevada. Paganelli has taught drawing and printmaking at Sierra Nevada College, University of Nevada Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College, and Yosemite National Park, sharing her passion for both traditional and contemporary art-making techniques.

The world around me is always shifting, and so is my urge to explore new ideas, emotions, and techniques. Every illustration begins with a clear purpose, but once I am immersed in the work, it develops a voice and rhythm of its own. art making is my passion—it sharpens my attention to detail, connects me more deeply to my surroundings, and brings me back to the studio day after day.