From Nurse to Fine Artist: My Creative Journey
Growing Up Surrounded by Nature
As a native to the beautiful coast of North Carolina, the salt air, ocean, and beach were less than five miles from my home growing up. Some of my favorite memories include hours playing in the waves as a child, long runs at Wrightsville Beach in college, sunrises and coffee by the seashore with friends, a moonlit engagement to my husband on the sands just beyond Stone Street, and sharing the joy of the beach with my own family.
Even then, the sea and sky were shaping my artistic style — one that would later be filled with coastal artwork, botanical details, and the quiet beauty found in the mountains.
Balancing Nursing, Motherhood, and Creativity
When it came time to choose a career, I followed my heart into pediatric nursing. Caring for babies, children and families in their most vulnerable moments felt meaningful and deeply human. But nursing school is also demanding, and there was little time for formal art training in college (unless you count art history!).
Even still, I continued creating as a hobby, primarily through acrylic painting. I often gifted friends and family with paintings and decorated our first home with my artwork. In the quiet moments — often after long shifts — I would pick up my paintbrush and found therapy in the mixing of colors. Art is truly the best therapy. It was my way of unwinding, of bringing a little beauty into the world after days filled with urgency.
Motherhood brings many blessings but also challenges I could never have anticipated. After having three incredible children under the age of four (including a kiddo with severe food allergies and nonverbal learning disability), I didn’t pick up a paintbrush for years.
In 2019–early 2020, my oldest son was starting kindergarten and my middle child was in preschool, so I began trying to paint in little pockets of time whenever possible. It was then that my dream grew — to create more original paintings, begin an art business, and eventually sell fine art prints. I completed Wrightsville Beach Sunrise, an acrylic painting on canvas, and shortly thereafter, life as we knew it changed again with Covid.
My kiddos were all now at home instead of school, and my paints were drying too quickly! I bought my first iPad and pencil and began dabbling in Procreate. I had the word “Behold” engraved on my iPad, a quiet promise to myself that I would one day launch Behold Fine Art.
I ended up deciding to homeschool my oldest for a season while continuing to work every weekend at the hospital as a lactation consultant, so I pressed the pause button on my artistic dreams yet again.
The Turning Point
In 2023, something shifted from deep within. I realized that art wasn’t just a hobby — it was a calling I had been answering all along. I picked up oil paints for the first time and immediately connected with the medium’s vibrancy, richness, and forgiving nature.
I began carving out more time for my creative work, which was more doable now that my children were all in school again. I started investing in professional, quality materials and soaking up every educational opportunity I could find related to starting an art business.
Slowly but surely, I started to envision what a life dedicated to art could look like. By 2024, I made the leap: I would launch my fine art business in November, sharing my coastal and nature-inspired paintings with the world for the first time.
My Artistic Style and Inspiration
Today, as a local Wilmington, NC artist, my work blends my love of oil painting with subject matter that is deeply invigorating and life-giving to me — coastal horizons, sunsets and sunrises over the ocean and mountains, floral and botanical still life paintings, birds and animals native to North Carolina, and vibrant summer fruits.
My palette is rich but peaceful, often inspired by the natural tones I see walking along the beach or hiking in the mountains. One signature detail I’ve added to my small works is gilding the edges with gold oil paint. It’s a small touch that elevates the artwork, giving each piece its own quiet shimmer.
Looking Ahead
My dream is to see my art in homes, boutique shops, and even interior design projects that value the beauty of local fine art. This blog will be a place where I share behind-the-scenes glimpses of my process, tips for choosing the perfect wall art for your home, and the stories behind my collections.
I believe art not only transforms a space — it transforms life from the inside out.
Bringing a Piece of Nature into Your Home
If you’re drawn to coastal wall art, botanical artwork, and nature-inspired oil paintings, I invite you to explore my current collection of originals and fine art prints. Each piece is created to bring peace, warmth, and timeless beauty into your space.
Thank you for being apart of my journey. ~ Blair
Artist Tip: Frames that Pair Well with Behold Prints
