Artist is bringing color to Medora with her brush strokes

Artist Nicole Gagner is thrilled with the view outside her window in Medora.

 “I’m a landscaper painter. I’ve never had the chance to paint in the Badlands before, so I was really, really excited for the opportunity to have just two weeks of painting,” said Gagner.

The 32 -year-old painter is the newest addition to Medora’s Artist in Residence program.

” We figure Medora and the Badlands in particular are just such a beautiful canvass, so let’s bring in people to paint it,” said  Daniel Gannarelli, marketing specialist for The Medora Foundation.

Gagner describes her work as colorful prairie impressionism, and she feels the landscape in Medora will help bring her artwork to the next level.

“For me it’s definitely the colors. The contrast between the reds and the greens in the landscape. That’s not something I get to paint  in Bismarck. It’s just flat and green,” said Gagner.

Not only will Gagner  have a place to gather inspiration, but her pieces will be on display throughout Medora.

“You will be here from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Von Hoffman House . .  .you will do a couple of performances up at the Medora Musical, and then we will put on an art gallery for you ,where you can sell your art to the public,” said Gannarelli.

Gagner said having her pieces on display for people to see is “great”, and she is excited to her what the public in Medora has to say about them.

She is the fifth artist to take part in Medora’s program this season, and guests have been big fans of the art.

“We have had paintings that sell for $5,000 that have sold here,” said Gannarelli.

Gagner  has just arrived in the area, but she is looking forward to selling her first piece.

“Anytime somebody connects to an artwork that they want to take it home with them it feels really great. It’s like okay, I’m not the only one that thought this was a moment worth capturing, said Gagner.

She will be putting her works on display for the public in Medora through September 2.