Nava Lundy: The Romantic Touch of Impressionism in South Florida South Florida artist Nava Lundy's romantic and heavily textured impressionist paintings exude delicate, feminine charm. She masterfully creates depth and dimension using layers of impasto applied with a palette knife and brush. This textural approach blurs and abstracts the composition, conveying a notion of gentle, bleary-eyed beauty. Nava preps each canvas with a gold wash, infusing her paintings with a luscious, warm glow. Working from her home in Parkland, Florida, amid the delightful chaos of children and canines, she finds peace painting in silence. Nava’s work blurs the lines between abstraction and impressionism, combining soft edges with energetic palette knife strokes. Her unique technique builds dimension and texture, making her subjects come alive and inviting viewers to touch the painting's surface. With hints of gold in almost all her works, her paintings are often described as luminous and dreamlike. "My goal is to have the viewer see the depth of color I see and to rethink the mundane by elevating it through the exploration of subtlety and turning up its volume at just the right points. I view my subject matter as a puzzle with each stroke building my paintings." Inspirations in 2024 Nava finds herself in a new creative phase in 2024, embracing a more fluid approach to her work. "I’m not sure if this was an intentional or a more gradual shift in my approach, but I started having multiple pieces in progress this year. I used to feel that I needed to 'finish' a painting before moving on to the next piece, meanwhile fantasizing about what would fill my canvas next while still working to finish a painting. I found that thinking this way made it so I was not always fully present. Perhaps this is a result of adding meditation to my routine? Now, I try to honor my natural inclination to move on to the new painting, without feeling a self-imposed pressure to 'finish' before I can do that. Removing these restrictions has allowed me to move back and forth into multiple paintings and listen to the inner voice that tells me I need to explore that day. Some days I need to let loose with big impasto palette knife work and tap into something more intuitive. But some days my energy isn’t right for that type of work and thinking, and I need that hyper focus of analyzing and exploring details and nuance." Evolving Artistic Process Nava's artistic process has evolved significantly over the past few years. "My work has become much more layered over the last few years. Seeing colors peak through other colors, seeing how textures can be accentuated or subdued—painting feels like a constant adventure and learning process which I hope is reflected in my work. It’s especially been a source of exploration in my work over the last few years." New Colors and Themes in 2024 Nava's creative process begins with a deep reflection on the emotional impact of her work. "Before I start a painting, I spend some time reflecting on what I want someone to feel when they sit with a particular piece I have in mind to paint. I want every painting to capture a vibe, an energy. I use that objective as my starting point and come back to those intentions as the painting progresses." Life and Inspiration in Parkland, FL Living and working in Parkland, Florida, Nava draws inspiration from her surroundings and daily life. "I live and work in Parkland, FL. Between my three kids in nonstop sports, I end up spending a ton of time outdoors. We live just a mile from school and the field, so we can take walks in the morning to school with our dog or ride bikes together. This is just enriching in general, being able to spend quality time together outdoors first thing in the morning, which really fills my cup." A Perfect Day Nava's idea of a perfect day has evolved with her life stages. "I think what this means changes all throughout your life. Honestly, right now, as the school year has just ended, my perfect day starts with not needing to be anywhere! Then taking a quiet walk with my dog while sipping my morning coffee, maybe going for a bike ride as a family, and then…I would love to paint the rest of the day and have uninterrupted time in the studio, and maybe only come out for snacks and meals." Nava Lundy's journey through impressionist art continues to inspire and captivate, reflecting her personal growth and evolving artistic vision. Her works remain a testament to the beauty of subtlety, texture, and emotional depth, making her a prominent figure in the South Florida art scene. Artist Background University of PennsylvaniaBachelor of Fine Arts, 2005 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2005Works in international and national private collections and university and museum collections, including Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, Israel and The University of South Florida.