From Nurse to Fine Artist: My Creative Journey
From Nursing to Nature-Inspired Art: My Journey as a Wilmington Oil Painter
As a native of the beautiful coast of North Carolina, the salt air, ocean, and pristine beach were never far away. These natural surroundings, less than five miles from my childhood home, fueled my imagination. Some of my favorite memories include playing in the waves and enjoying long runs at Wrightsville Beach during college. I recall sunrises with coffee by the shore with friends and getting engaged to my husband on the beach under a glowing moon.
Now I have the privilege to share that same joy of the coast with my family. Even as a child, I noticed how the sea and sky would shape my perspective and creative identity. The peacefulness by the water became the inspiration for my future canvases—coastal artwork, botanical details, and the tranquil beauty found in the mountains.
Balancing Nursing, Motherhood, and Creativity as a Nurse Turned Artist
When it was time to choose a career, I followed my heart into pediatric nursing. Working as a registered nurse was a deeply meaningful path, caring for babies, children, and families at their most vulnerable moments. Nursing school, however, was demanding and left little time for formal art education, apart from occasional art history classes.
Despite this, I continued creating as a hobby, using acrylic paint. Many times I would gift friends and family with my art, and our first home was decorated with my paintings. In those quiet moments after long nursing shifts, I found therapy in the mixing of colors. Art provided me with much-needed beauty and peace, helping me unwind after stressful days.
Motherhood soon brought more blessings and unexpected challenges. After having three children under the age of four—including one with severe food allergies and a nonverbal learning disability—I stepped away from painting for several years. My art practice paused, replaced by the constant responsibilities of early motherhood.
In 2019 and early 2020, as my oldest began kindergarten and my middle child started preschool, pockets of free time reappeared. I slowly returned to painting, and my old dream was rekindled: to create original paintings and eventually offer fine art prints. I completed the painting Wrightsville Beach Sunrise and soon after, everything changed with the arrival of Covid.
With all my children at home and my paints drying too quickly, I explored a new path. I purchased an iPad and Apple Pencil and started experimenting with Procreate. As a promise to myself, I had the word “Behold” engraved on my device, knowing one day I would establish Behold Fine Art. Not much later, I began homeschooling my oldest while continuing to work weekends as a lactation consultant. Once again, I pressed pause on my artistic dreams.
The Turning Point: Journey of a Nurse Turned Artist
Everything shifted for me in 2023, when I realized that art was not only a hobby, but a calling I had quietly pursued all along. I picked up oil paints for the first time and immediately connected with their vibrancy and forgiving nature. Gradually, I started carving out more time for my creative work, which became easier now that all my children were in school.
I began to invest in professional, quality materials and took advantage of every learning opportunity available about building an art business. Step by step, I envisioned my life as a dedicated artist. By 2024, I decided to take the leap: I would launch my fine art business in November, ready to share my coastal and nature-inspired paintings with the world.
My Artistic Style and Nature-Inspired Paintings
Today, as a Wilmington, NC artist, my creative work is deeply influenced by the natural world around me. My love for oil paintings shines through in my subjects—coastal horizons, glowing sunsets, sunrises over the ocean, and botanical still lifes. These subjects are a true reflection of my connection to nature and my surroundings.
Nature-inspired art is at the heart of the work I create. I find endless inspiration in the native birds and animals of North Carolina, as well as the bold colors of summer fruits. My palette remains both rich and peaceful, often echoing the natural tones I see each time I walk along the beach or head for a hike in the mountains. A small detail I love adding to my smaller paintings is gold oil paint on the edges, which brings a subtle, shimmering finish that sets each piece apart.
Looking Ahead: A Nurse Turned Artist Sharing Beauty and Peace
My dream is to share my art with homes, boutique shops, and interior design projects that prize the charm of local fine art. This blog is a space where I reveal behind-the-scenes glimpses of my painting process, offer advice for choosing wall art, and share stories behind each collection. I firmly believe that art transforms not only a room, but also the lives within it, from the inside out.
Bringing Nature-Inspired Art into Your Home
If you love coastal wall art or botanical artwork, I invite you to explore my current collection of original and nature-inspired paintings and fine art prints. Each piece is designed to bring beauty and peace—timeless qualities—into your space.
Thank you for being apart of my journey. ~ Blair
Artist Tip: Frames that Pair Well with Behold Prints
