Born and raised in the gentle rhythms of rural Virginia, Jeannie Brendler found her earliest artistic inspiration in the quiet wisdom of her uncle, John Hilt—a man who carved wood as tenderly as he played the fiddle and charmed wild birds into stillness on his hand. From him, she learned that quality is a way of life and that education is the compass to true fulfillment.

Jeannie carried those lessons with her through her formal education, earning degrees from Bluefield Junior College and Radford University, and pursuing further studies at Mount Vernon College, George Washington University, American University, and Northern Virginia Community College. Her artistry and professionalism were recognized nationally when she received the McGraw-Hill National Educational Publications Award for her design work with the National Education Association.

Over the course of her vibrant career, Jeannie served for fifteen years as an artist, calligrapher, and photographer with the Fairfax County Office of Communications and as art director for Fairfax County Public Schools. After relocating from Northern Virginia, she continued to share her talents, teaching art and calligraphy at Anson Community College in North Carolina.

Now retired, Jeannie lives with her husband on a llama ranch nestled in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia, where the wild beauty of the Blue Ridge inspires her daily. With brush in hand, she brings to life large, expressive paintings that celebrate the natural world. Her creative spirit remains ever curious—recently turning toward the world of book publishing, where her talents continue to evolve.

Rooted in tradition yet ever seeking new horizons, Jeannie Brendler is an artist shaped by the land, uplifted by education, and devoted to the lifelong act of creation.