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Anne M. Hier, JD, MFA is an artist, writer, and dog show judge. Her illustrations and articles have appeared in various magazines and books since 1977. "Sam Kohl,owner of the New York School of Dog Grooming, had seen some of my published canine cartoons and drawings and asked me to illustrate his book, All About Dog Shows. That was a big break for me and it gave me a lot of credibility - especially since I had no formal art training at that time. But, it also made me realize that I would go a lot further if I went to college and became more professional," said Hier.

Hier holds both a BFA and MFA in studio art from Michigan State University. "The great thing about the MFA is that it teaches you to show up every day and work, rather than make excuses that some muse hasn't lighted on your shoulder. Art is great - it can be a hobby or a profession. But, if you want to make your living at it, you have to put in the studio time - everyday." Additionally, Hier graduated cum laude from Thomas M. Cooley Law School with a concentration in International Law. "My main motivation for law school was to learn about copyright law, contracts, and the law of cyberspace, as well as take every research and writing class offered to improve in that area," she said. "When I started selling my work all you needed was a business card, a portfolio, and a great pair of shoes to pound the pavement. But, being an artist and writer today means marketing on the internet. I love it because it has allowed me to sell artwork and books around the world."

Hier's principal media are pen and ink, colored pencil, and oil paintings. However, she works in numerous other media, including graphite, pastel, watercolor, and intaglio printing. Her favorite subject matter and specialty is dogs, but she beautifully captures the expression of many other animals. "I have been drawing in pen and ink since I was fourteen and I received my first portrait commission when I was sixteen. It was a challenging full body oil portrait of my 4-H leader's Morgan stallion. I just love to push paint on canvas and I also do landscapes, but I never get tired of drawing all the variation that occurs in dogs. So many people now consider dogs to be members of the family that there is a strong demand for canine portraiture," Hier stated.

Hier is a recognized dog expert and has owned and exhibited purebred dogs, principally Bulldogs and French Bulldogs, since 1975. She has been a dog show judge since 1988. She also worked for the American Kennel Club in New York City as Director, Judging Research and Development. Her principal responsibilities included creating both print and multi-media educational programs for dog show judges and lecturing throughout the USA and Canada.

Hier is the author of the book Dog Shows Then and Now: An Annotated Anthology, and has won three Maxwell Awards from the Dog Writers Association of America. Hier recently launched USADOGART™ to feature her artwork and writing online at http://www.usadogart.com

Current projects for Hier include graphite illustrations for the Affenpinscher Club of America's Illustrated Guide, a corporate oil painting commission for the United Kennel Club in Kalamazoo, Michigan and - another dog book.

Hier accepts commissions and illustration jobs. She may be contacted at: annemhier@usadogart.com