Featured Artist Nancy Wood

Artist Nancy Wood uses digital photography techniques to create vivid and magical images of nature. Find more of her portfolio on  her website.

 

 

I am classically trained in oil painting and traditional drawing and received my B.A. and M.F.A. degrees in Fine Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles on full tuition scholarships.

 

 

During the 1990’s I bought a computer and began to teach myself digital media. I believed it would be the future of visual arts. I was right, this led me to become successful in digital media.

 

 

My early digital works were included in the Museum of Modern Art New York’s 1999 “Museum as Muse” online exhibition, the Las Vegas Truly Virtual Art Museum, and many other early digital exhibitions.

 

 

In my current work I adapt the aesthetics of classical art to create digital artworks from photographs I have taken in scenic areas of Texas. Drawing inspiration from the beauty of my surroundings, I photograph idyllic scenes that evoke a sense of joy and wonder within me.

 

 

Working on images in my computer, I choose and adjust colors, move, and edit shapes, and apply tints and glazes. I become completely engrossed in thinking visually about the image, just as I do when painting with oils.

 

 

Digital art requires little space for storing or working on the art. It can be worked on in brief or in extended lengths of time, making creativity accessible to artists such as myself who must work full-time jobs. The unlimited presentation options for digital images make digital works easier to sell or commission.

 

 

Using Photoshop and other digital applications I intensify colors and abstract forms to express the mystical qualities one experiences while absorbed in the splendor of nature. My goal is to generate positive feelings of well-being in viewers.

 

 

In the past several decades there have been many scientific studies regarding the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas. These include stress reduction, increase in immune systems, mental performance, creativity, and better mood. Engaging with artwork inspired by the beauty of nature has a calming and stress-reducing effect. Nature-based artwork can create a visual escape, transporting individuals to serene and tranquil landscapes. It provides a much-needed respite from the demands of daily life.

 

 

Artwork based on the beauty of nature also has the potential to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainable practices. It can serve as a medium to convey messages about the importance of protecting and preserving the environment. My versatile works can be printed at any size on various substrates, projected or displayed online.

 

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