Welcome! I am an acrylic painter of the landscapes and lake shores of Michigan. During my hiking and travel adventures I take reference photos for studio paintings, and often paint on location. I especially love the Sleeping Bear Dunes area, "America's Most Beautiful Place."
Scroll through my pages and enjoy my recent artwork, and follow along with me on my latest adventures on Instagram and Facebook where I share photography, exhibit news, process, travels and more. Nothing makes me happier than to share my perspective on this beautiful world, and for someone to want to cherish one of my paintings.
An original Michigan painting often becomes a treasured family heirloom and makes a thoughtful gift. if you have a special location or idea in mind, I can make it happen for you as a commission; let's collaborate. Contact me at carolyndamstra@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!
"You capture the beauty and grace of Michigan in a way that makes me feel connected to the trees and shorelines and waters of my home state. Your art speaks directly to the soul." -S. C.
BIO
Carolyn Damstra is a native Michiganian and has traveled extensively throughout North America and abroad. She has participated in numerous solo and juried state and regional exhibitions, including the Dennos Museum’s Art of Sleeping Bear Dunes and was selected as an Artist in Residency at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Recently, several of her paintings have travelled internationally as part of the Art In Embassies Program, U.S. Department of State, to Fiji and Serbia. Damstra holds a BFA in studio art and an MA in art history, both from Michigan State University.
The main subjects of her contemporary landscapes are the scenery and shorelines of Michigan. Through travels and painting, Damstra seeks out the healing power of immersion in nature and finds an emotional connection to our environment through visual observation. Her mission is to spread awareness of the power of this connection, through art. Her paintings serve as a bridge, or a catalyst, for connecting with the natural world and finding peace and spiritual health, as well as portraying the stunning beauty of her home state and the Midwestern region.
Scroll through my pages and enjoy my recent artwork, and follow along with me on my latest adventures on Instagram and Facebook where I share photography, exhibit news, process, travels and more. Nothing makes me happier than to share my perspective on this beautiful world, and for someone to want to cherish one of my paintings.
An original Michigan painting often becomes a treasured family heirloom and makes a thoughtful gift. if you have a special location or idea in mind, I can make it happen for you as a commission; let's collaborate. Contact me at carolyndamstra@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!
"You capture the beauty and grace of Michigan in a way that makes me feel connected to the trees and shorelines and waters of my home state. Your art speaks directly to the soul." -S. C.
BIO
Carolyn Damstra is a native Michiganian and has traveled extensively throughout North America and abroad. She has participated in numerous solo and juried state and regional exhibitions, including the Dennos Museum’s Art of Sleeping Bear Dunes and was selected as an Artist in Residency at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Recently, several of her paintings have travelled internationally as part of the Art In Embassies Program, U.S. Department of State, to Fiji and Serbia. Damstra holds a BFA in studio art and an MA in art history, both from Michigan State University.
The main subjects of her contemporary landscapes are the scenery and shorelines of Michigan. Through travels and painting, Damstra seeks out the healing power of immersion in nature and finds an emotional connection to our environment through visual observation. Her mission is to spread awareness of the power of this connection, through art. Her paintings serve as a bridge, or a catalyst, for connecting with the natural world and finding peace and spiritual health, as well as portraying the stunning beauty of her home state and the Midwestern region.