Confidence—it’s the spirit that radiates from Teresa Elliott’s personality and her artwork. It’s also a trait that manifested itself early in her life. “One day in kindergarten, we were each asked to draw a bird,” she recalls. “My drawing amazed everyone, including me. Even though I was very young, I knew right then, deep down, that I would become an artist.”

Today, that same self-assurance, combined with well-honed talent, is ideally suited to her current subject of choice—the Texas Longhorn. Elliott’s bold interpretations of this rare breed have won applause from collectors and art critics alike, and her paintings hang in corporate offices as well as the homes of celebrities. Baseball legend Nolan Ryan and singer Toni Tennille (of The Captain and Tennille) are among recent collectors of her work. “Men and women seem to love the Longhorns equally,” Elliott says. Her work has also been displayed in prestigious venues, such as the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Briscoe Western Museum, and the Coors Western Art Exhibit.