With paint brush in hand, I’m at peace.
I wasn’t an artist; at least, that’s what a teacher once told me. To this day, I don’t have formal art education. I’m a self taught, intuitive, emotionally expressive, contemporary artist. My “education” includes experiences of a veteran, husband, father, addict and homeless person. 20 years ago my world was dangerous, destructive, painful, dark and hopeless. I saw my art as myself – flawed – and threw it away.
But now I see my art as therapy for mind and soul. I began throwing color again in 2003. My world now isn’t dark but full of color. Adding to that color brings me joy and peace. Much of my art is abstract explosions, rivers and clouds of color; or impressions of scenes and creatures from nature. I sometimes include the phrase “Color My World” in artist’s statements because of the influence of color not just in my art but in my life in general.
I’m an active person who loves to be outdoors. Colors I see there feed my creativity. Motorcycle road trips on Minnesota back roads, camping on the Mississippi – followed by painting colors of horizons, sunsets, storms and aspects of nature that I saw or experienced.
I don’t stand at an easel to paint; I sit on the floor in a 19th century shoe factory-turned-studio blocks from the Mississippi. I’m struck by the ability of color to add to the beauty of anything, to strike awe into the heart, and to elevate mood and spirit. To depict that in my paintings is my desire and passion. A visitor to my studio remarked that my work made him “pause” – a perfect description of what I strive for and what I am rewarded by when I paint.
For purchasing or booking, please contact Gina at gina@nunage.com
