Phyllis Northup
Art Inspired by Nature ~ National Park Landscapes & More
Michigan

Recognizing the creative spirit in my young soul, my grandmother gave me a beginners set of oils when I was seven 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 gentle mountains of Shenandoah and the misty ridges of the Smoky Mountains. Now, at the pristine jewel of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, I am surrounded by incredible beauty and the spirit of Lake Superior, which inspires me on a daily basis.

I have such a collection of images in my mind and soul from living in all of these spectacular places; I will never lose 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!