The Widlund Gallery at Tannery Pond Center presents: Nature’s Gifts by Lynn Shanks
Tuesday, April 1 - Saturday, May 10
Reception: Friday, April 4 | 5-7 PM
Gallery Hours: Tues – Fri, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Sat, 12:00 - 4:00 PM | additional hours by appointment
Artist Statement: My work is an observation of ordinary beauty, in both nature and humanity. I use acrylic or watercolor paints to capture and share my unique perspective on a common subject. Rather than precisely replicate, my goal is to represent and simplify, though my style is ever-evolving. The Adirondack region I call home is a source of endless inspiration. Art in every form celebrates individuality while encouraging a collective experience. My paintings are meant to remind viewers of the awe that surrounds us. If we just look – actually take a moment to appreciate what surrounds us – we will be motivated to protect our natural world.
Lynn Shanks
Lynn is an emerging painter working mainly in acrylics, focusing heavily on the landscape. She is influenced by both impressionist and abstract landscape artists and inspired by the ordinary beauty of nature. Realism is not necessarily the goal; Lynn uses heavy paint and brushstrokes in a way that suggest light, shadows, depth, and movement. She seeks to bring the viewer into the scene, offering her art as a reminder that our natural world must be preserved and protected from the threat of overdevelopment and climate change. The Adirondack Region where she lives is a constant source of inspiration.
As Lynn’s style is always evolving, she also experiments with watercolor and ink, and in other subject areas. She paints birds and explores portraiture, and uses art to express her political views. Women’s issues are becoming an increasingly prominent focus of Lynn’s work.
Lynn always had a passion for art and desire to create. A degree in visual arts management provided studio experience and a connection to the arts throughout her career, but it wasn’t until the age of 57 that Lynn’s quiet, nearly forgotten dream of becoming an artist was realized. Illness prompted an early retirement, allowing her the time and introspection to refocus. She now spends at least 20 hours a week in her studio and has produced more than 75 works in the past year.
Several of Lynn’s paintings have been exhibited throughout the region, and her work has been selected for three solo shows and a two-person show in 2025. Lynn lives and works in Queensbury, New York.
