Fascinated with European art history and painting, Sallie McIlheran came to Vienna, Austria after finishing her college degree at Sweet Briar College, Virginia. She applied for the entrance examinations and was accepted to the University of Vienna where she spent five years, until she earned her Masters of Fine Art, for painting and graphic art. She was able to study in the Master Class of Prof. Wolfgang Hutter, one of the leading members of the Austrian School of Fantastic Realism. During these years in Vienna, she learned various techniques of painting. The most important one for her, the “Alt-Meister Technik”, using a gradual buildup of white egg tempera, underpainting and layers of oil, has influenced her style of painting. Precision of line and detail as well as consideration of color are of fundamental importance. Since 1991, Sallie McIlheran works primarily on her artwork for exhibitions and participates regularly in diverse art competitions. Aside from this, she works freelance for various publishing houses, among others Breitschof in Vienna and Frieling Publishing House in Berlin as well as working on portrait commissions. Starting in 2001, she holds classes in painting and drawing for adults at the Volkshoch-schule in Friesing.