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Upcoming Artist Begins Her Journey

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachiah Roberson
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Local artist Natalie Michelle Mann's painting of a World War II veteran has earned her a top-place finish in the North Dakota Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Patriotic Art Contest.

Mann's mother, Isabel, is also an artist, and her father, Col. Christopher Mann, is the 319th Air Base Wing vice commander.

Natalie said she finds inspiration for her art when talking to her subjects. It was no different when she decided to paint a portrait of the veteran, Clarence Olson.

"He just seemed like someone who wanted to share his story, so when I asked for a photo of him, he didn't just simply give it to me with a few sentences following," said Natalie, who recently graduated from Central High School in Grand Forks. "He sat me down and told me about his background in World War II, and his experiences with the bombing of Pearl Harbor."

Natalie said she feels she can use her artwork to help tell a person's story.

"I typically paint people that I have personally met and have made an imprint on me, such as the piece I won this award with," said Natalie. "He took the time out of his day to sit with me and tell me about his life experiences; he just struck me as a very interesting person so that is where my inspiration to make that particular piece came from."

Natalie said she also draws inspiration from artists such as Salvador Dali, a Spanish surrealist painter best known for his work entitled, "The Persistence of Memory."

"My pieces don't always have as much detail in them as most portrait-style ones do, but it's what I like and it's how I feel best tells the story of the subject I'm painting," she said.

Oil paints are her weapon of choice when it comes time to attack the canvas.

"I love using oil paints, even though it takes about three months to dry," she said. "It actually offers me a chance to add touch-ups or additions to the paintings within that time frame."

Isabel Mann said winning any award, however large or small, is a big achievement for her 18-year-old daughter.

"I think this is a great opportunity for her, especially as a young artist," she said. "It is a good way for her to get a taste of the artist's life, and also offer her some great experience."

Natalie said she will attend Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio on a partial scholarship awarded to her as a result of her numerous art pieces.