Shanna Kunz’s landscape paintings tend toward the complex and moody: winding rivers lit by an unseen sun, autumn foliage beneath overcast skies, dark forest-scapes emerging from banks of thick mist. But Kunz herself is pure sunlight, a self-described and unapologetic glass-half-full personality who loves every minute of her creative life and overflows with enthusiasm for the things she loves best: the artist’s life, relationships with family and friends, and the beauty of nature.

“I’ve been painting for 26 years now, a long time,” Kunz says. “And I still put a brush in my hand and feel like it’s new. I still absolutely love every minute of painting. It’s fun. It’s a beautiful life. I get to see the beauty in everything and meet so many incredible people, and my collectors have all become friends and stayed by my side through all of it. I get to see the beautiful parts of life, and I love that.”

The business side of art, she admits, is “a little more challenging,” so she gladly accepts the assistance of her husband Marco, who deals with details like shipping, framing, preparing panels, and tracking inventory. And she occasionally leans on her daughter Kelsey for marketing and writing assistance.

Read the entire article in the March/April 2020 issue.

Restoration

Oil
24” by 43”

“This is Redfish Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. There is a beautiful inlet into the lake where the water is as clear as crystal and icy cold.”

Migration

Oil
32” by 36”

“This is the view from a dear friend/collector’s back porch, looking at the annual ‘drift’ of bringing the cattle back in for the winter in the Wind River Mountain Range.”