Through travels and painting, Carolyn Damstra seeks out the healing power of 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. "Art has been a tool for me to access the natural world more fully. I spend a great deal of time alone outdoors, allowing my thoughts and observations to process. I am free to wander and fully experience my surroundings. I want to be an example of a woman that finds spiritual healing and growth from hiking, traveling, and exploring nature independently, and my art and messaging are conduits for promoting this.

It is a thrilling act of courage to paint--to load a brush and trust your experience and skill to execute your vision. Years of experimentation, along with a rich background in art history, have given me a solid foundation and the ability to trust myself. I describe my style as Contemporary Landscape Painting, and I have developed my own technique of painting with acrylics using a vibrating, patterned brushstroke that gives the surface an energized quality. This mimics the patterns frequently seen in nature and the energy of light and wind.

Damstra has participated in numerous solo and juried state and regional exhibitions, is an award-winning plein air artist, and was selected as 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. Damstra holds a BFA in studio art and an MA in art history, both from Michigan State University.