PHYLLIS NORTHUP

Recognizing the creative spirit in my young soul, my grandmother gave me a set of oils when I was ten years old.  Thus began my love affair with all things art.  My BA in Fine Arts was just the beginning of a lifetime of learning and growing as an artist and art teacher.

Having married a National Park Ranger I have had the good fortune to move all over the country and live in some of our nation’s most spectacular places.  My “backyards” have included the soaring majesty of the Tetons, the ever changing, awe inspiring Grand Canyon, the stark beauty of the Big Bend desert, the beaches of Cape Hatteras, the flowing water and limestone cliffs of the Buffalo River, the misty ridges of the Smoky Mountains, and the pristine jewel of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, where the spirit of Lake Superior inspired me on a daily basis.  The adventure continues as we have returned to the beautiful mountains of Shenandoah National Park, where our journey began many years ago.

Although all of my work is inspired by nature, I naturally prefer to paint National Park Landscapes. I am an avid outdoors woman, and find the inspiration for my paintings while I am out hiking, kayaking, biking, cross country skiing, or otherwise exploring the natural world. I always have a camera in my pocket, so I can capture what I find in a photograph, which I paint from later in my studio. In addition to the larger landscapes, I also enjoy painting the "intimate landscapes", capturing the beauty in the small and magical world that is all around us and under our feet, but mostly unseen.  My hope with these paintings is to bring awareness to these wonders and encourage people to see more of what is around them.

I have such a collection of images in my mind and soul from living in all of these spectacular places; I will never loose my passion for attempting to capture the essence of their beauty and spirit.  Nature recharges my soul, and I hope that both my art and my teaching will help others to see and be open to the beauty of the natural world that surrounds us all.  Awareness and appreciation will hopefully lead to the desire to protect, preserve and care for this fragile planet we dwell on.

See my water colors and jewelry on my website at www.phyllisnorthup.com, "Like" and follow my Facebook page at Phyllis Hain Northup - Art Inspired by Nature