Featured Artist: Nadine Sallinen

Meet Nadine Sallinen

Nadine is an artist residing and working in BC, Canada. She has had a fascination with art since childhood. She started initially with watercolours, drawing with pencil, coloured pencils, pen and ink and acrylic painting, and then to using pastels. She discovered that pastels suited her style and love of detail. She learned drawing and painting from an old-fashioned mail order course many years ago, and took a watercolour workshop in her 20’s. For a time, Nadine set art aside while working and raising a family, only to get back to it after her kids moved on to live their own lives. Returning to the use of familiar mediums was enjoyable, and exploring new techniques from books, online, and taking a few workshops, brought new challenges and variety to pursuing art every day.

Nature as a Subject, Pastel as a Medium

Nadine’s main subjects are inspired by nature – animals, flowers and landscapes. Some of her paintings have been inspired by the scenes and images from her trips to Japan and Europe. Recently, art has become important not only as a creative activity, but also for personal growth and enjoyment; paying attention to details calms her spirit and feeds her soul. A bedroom converted into a studio means she can just close the door, and anything in progress can be picked up the next day where she left off. This is her happy place.

Although pastels are Nadine’s favourite medium, she has recently returned to working with watercolours with Rusart handmade watercolours. They are smooth flowing, have a range of vivid, deep colours, and working with them has opened up a new outlook to using this medium. Using good quality pigments and quality papers removed the sense of unpredictability from the application of watercolours. In addition, combining the experience gained in using watercolours and gouache as an underpainting to pastels, brought a new enjoyable dimension to her art.

More Art By Nadine

Nadine is a member of the Pastel Artists of Canada and the Coast Cultural Alliance of BC. Her instagram account is @nadinesallinen and a facebook art page Nadine’sArt. Her website is harmonyandbalance.ca  She has had a few exhibits locally, and her art has sold to private collectors in the US, Canada, and Brazil.

Her motto is:

“Everyone can do art.” Simply get started with a basic set and begin creating. Buy the best quality supplies you can afford – it does make a difference.