Artist Reception for Art Nordstrom

His paintings will be on display at the Great River Road Visitor & Learning Center from July 7^th through the end of August. Come to this reception to meet the painter himself and to hear th stories behind the paintings! Free events. Refreshments will be served.

Arthur D. Nordstrom was a senior high school art instructor in Hastings, Minnesota, for thirty-two years before retiring in 1997. Mr. Nordstrom’s love of art began when he was a boy growing up on a farm near Fargo, North Dakota, where he practiced drawing by copying cartoons, animals and Saturday Evening Post covers by Norman Rockwell. Eventually attending Moorhead State College, in Moorhead, MN, he graduated with a BS degree in Art and Business Education. He did graduate work at Mankato State University with emphasis on Art History, oil painting and art education. Much of his work in oils during this time and for the next few years showed a strong influence of Andrew Wyeth, who he admired a great deal.

His drawings are detailed pencil or pen and ink renderings of scenery, wildlife or architectural structures in which he emphasizes the contrast between light and shadow, foreground and background. He also paints in watercolor, acrylics, and oil and his favorite subjects tend to be scenery, rural buildings, country scenes and scenes from the Florida coast.

During his years as an art instructor, Mr. Nordstrom began to develop a special interest in pottery. Since his retirement he has also enjoyed producing creatively designed stoneware and raku pottery.