Nita Engle, one of America's foremost watercolor artists, is well-known for her watercolor
landscapes which are a visual remedy for incurable wanderlust. Her paintings range from
Africa to Alaska, from Thailand and Tahiti to Italy, and from Indonesia to her home on the
shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Her unique watercolor technique
has been developed through experimentation. Engle says, "The exciting thing about painting in
watercolor is that it moves on the paper, unlike oil."
Engle attended the Art Institute of Chicago for four years with affiliated study at
Northern Michigan University and Roosevelt University. She was employed as an art director of
a Chicago ad agency before becoming a full-time illustrator in watercolor for major
publications, for everything she says, "From Reader's Digest to Playboy."
Engle was named a 1996 "Art Master" in recognition of her outstanding work and
dedication in the medium of watercolor by American Artist magazine's 1996 Art Masters
awards program. Organizations such as The National Academy of Design, Art Critics and the
National Arts Club as well as former winners of this award selected the names of 200
nominees which were then juried by another panel of prominent artists and artists'
foundations before this year's 18 Masters were chosen.
A member of the American Watercolor Society since 1969, she has been a frequent
exhibitor, winning several awards. Engle has also taken part in many exhibitions sponsored by
the Society of Illustrators in New York including an exhibit of American illustrators along with
the work of Winslow Homer, N.C. Wyeth and Norman Rockwell, entitled "1976 - 200 Years of
American Illustration." American Artist named her "Artist of the Year" in 1984. In 1985, a PBS
documentary film was made of her work and environment called "Wilderness Palette - Nita
Engle in Michigan" by KAKM in Anchorage, AK. In 1986 she was awarded an Honorary
Doctorate by Northern Michigan University. She was also selected as one of 20 U.S. artists
included in a group of artists from Great Britain and Canada exhibiting in an event called
"International Waters" and one of 40 artists selected to exhibit with Australian artists in
Taipei, Republic of China. Engle has also taken part in the annual Great Women Artists of
America Show held in Chicago.
The natural beauty of the wilderness, especially the North Country, presents a
continual challenge to Engle, who feels that one lifetime is not enough to accomplish all she
hopes to achieve. "There is so little wilderness left; we are surrounded by pavement. My goal is
to take you into the landscape through my painting." Engle's art can be seen in many books
and publications, including a book of her art to be published by Watson-Guptill.
EDUCATION: Art Institute of Chicago, IL
Northern Michigan University
Roosevelt University
EXHIBITIONS: Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
200 Years of American Illustration
International Waters
Great Women Artists of America Show, Chicago, IL
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