Mitchell, Shelley

Shelley Mitchell is a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and divides her time between Halifax and Lunenburg, N.S. Her paintings are shown in Nova Scotia, Ottawa, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Maine. Her work is represented in the Canadiana State Art Collection in Ottawa and is included in the book “From Land and Sea, Nova Scotia’s Contemporary Artists.” She is also a founding member of PLANS (Professional Living Artists of Nova Scotia), a group devoted to promoting realist art in this province. She has been featured in numerous solo and group shows, and her works can be found in private and corporate collections across Canada, the United States and Europe.

Artist Statement

The physical presence of the Atlantic with its ever-changing atmosphere and diversity of shore and sea moves me to paint continuously. Each part of the day and every change in the weather give me inspiration. I try to express that moment of tranquility or excitement in each painting so that it becomes part of the viewers’ experience. Sometimes the key to the idea is not in the overall composition, but in a detail of the work. For example, a particular boat is not important, but the surface of the water upon which it rests is critical. Which tree is chosen does not matter, but the quality of the air around it does. I feel grateful every day to be a part of the continuing dialogue of art.