Nancy Arndt

I am a Michigan artist and an artist of Michigan. Many of my paintings are of rural scenes near Kalamazoo, my home in Southwest Michigan, and the countryside of Huron County near Pigeon, my birthplace in the Thumb of Michigan.

I was raised on a dairy farm surrounded by endless fields of wheat, corn, hay, and vast skies. Those experiences have nurtured a respect for nature and a love of the land. My art reflects a love for the land and especially our Michigan landscapes.

My work is created from photographs taken of special places I’ve visited. I like to wander through fields, streams, meadows and the lakeshores with my camera.  My goal is to capture the beauty around me by working with the interplay of light and shadow in the landscape. I am inspired by scenes that evoke an emotional response in me and enjoy capturing the essence of that in my paintings. When painting, I strive to stay true to the natural beauty of the land. My hope is that you, the viewer, are emotionally brought into the landscape and enjoy the experience within it.

My love for pastels began after enrolling in local art classes. What I find most appealing is the purity and intensity of the colors and the immediacy of the medium. Pastels enable me to convey my subject with clarity and freedom of technique. Creating art has enhanced my awareness and appreciation of nature. Where I once looked at the world, now I see it. I feel like I’ve been given a gift to create art and I am honored to share this with you.