Caroline Nelson, 28 VIRGINIA
Style & Inspirations: I love painting from life and looking at the work of the 19th-century realist painters; my work is very influenced by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. I am also inspired by the Anne of Green Gables book series by L.M. Montgomery, and period piece films like Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Pride & Prejudice (2005).
Art Education: I had private full-time training in classical realism under Henry Wingate (2018-2020) and was an intern artist at East Oaks Studio, Raleigh, North Carolina (2020-2022).
Best Art Advice Received: Always remember to squint at your painting! It helps you keep your values, chroma and hue in check and visually balanced.
Favorite Studio Music: I love classical music! Claude Debussy, Dario Marianelli, Max Richter, Ennio Morricone, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Howard Shore and Antonio Lucio Vivaldi are some of my favorite composers.
Favorite Work by Another Artist: It’s hard to choose a favorite, but one I always go back to study is THE SONG OF THE ANGELS by Bouguereau.
Artistic Goals: I want to refine my skills and have a more nuanced approach to my paintings, and to study the brushwork of artists like John Singer Sargent to try and have more breadth in texture and looseness/tightness of my brush-handling.
Other Passions: I love to spend time outdoors and take long walks, make crepe paper flowers, spend time with my husband and family, and cook!
Contact Info: carolinenelsonartist.comRepresentation: Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NYPrice Range: $3,000-$20,000
Included in “21 Under 31 | Young Artists to Watch, 2026” from the August/September 2026 issue.
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