HEY THERE, ART LOVER.
I ‘M S O G L A D Y O U ‘ R E H E R E .
My name is Grace Manning, and I am a watercolor artist based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
I specialize in portraiture, both human and animal, but it’s no secret that I live to paint wedding portraits!
Though I’ve always loved to draw, I haven’t always loved watercolor. In fact, after my first watercolor class as a freshman in college, I swore I would never touch them again! However, due to a scheduling error my senior year, I was placed in another watercolor course.
Perhaps it was the new teacher or the change in perspective, but that class changed everything for me.
It was there that I painted my first portraits and gained a love for this medium. I grew fond of the translucent layers that are perfect for recreating the appearance of skin and are forgiving enough for a perfectionist like me.
I began painting portraits of close friends for practice and often gave them as gifts. The most common reaction I received was shock, quickly followed by, “You paint?”
As word got around, I began receiving requests from others who wanted to commission similar paintings from me. It had still not occurred to me to pursue painting full time until my husband, Cody, suggested I take the summer off to focus on painting alone. I did not set out to start a business, but thanks to people like you, I have had enough orders to paint full time since my first day “on the job.”
Now, I am so grateful that I get to spend every day doing what I love.
Most days, you can find me behind my easel, sipping on coffee and stressing over some minor detail in the portrait I’m currently working on.
Still, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I enjoy bringing your memories to life again through layered colors and small details.
Thank you for choosing me, trusting me, and reading this far!
I’m so grateful you’re here.
WANT TO SAY HEY?
