Carolyn Damstra is a Michigan-based painter. For a time in her 20s, she lived and worked in the Sierra Nevada mountains, hiking solo with her watercolor pad. Through this experience she discovered the healing power of immersion and quiet observation of nature. Her paintings serve as a bridge, or a catalyst, for knowing the natural world better, and foster peace and spiritual health. Her art plays on the borders between being representational and abstract, crossing through dimensions of reality and imagination.

“It is an ongoing act of courage to paint; to not be afraid to load a brush and trust your intuition and experience to guide the outcome. It is exciting to hold this conversation between nature, ideas and pigment, flow and vibration, and share it with others. My art is inspired by my frequent practice of walking through the forest. This is a meditative, healing practice for me. There is a japanese practice called forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. It is about connecting with nature through our senses. Shinrin-yoku bridges the gap between us and the natural world. I welcome viewers to walk through my art in a similar way.”

Carolyn travels frequently, still hiking and painting--especially along Michigan’s west coast and the Leelanau Peninsula. Growing up in Grand Rapids, frequent trips to Lake Michigan fostered a love for water and the many moods of Lake Michigan. Today her medium is acrylics and she works in her Okemos studio from her own photos and also directly outdoors (en plein air) in warmer months. She has a BFA in painting and an MA in art history, both from Michigan State University, and exhibits in museums and galleries. Visit www.carolyndamstra.com.