Shirley Arrants
American/Washington b. 1941
Biography
A painter in realistic style of pastel landscapes, portraiture, still life and wildlife, Shirley Arrants was born in Eugene, Oregon in 1941, and was raised in the Flathead Valley of the big-sky state of Montana. She now lives in Monroe, Washington.
Her goal is to provide sensitive portrayals of people, horses, wildlife and landscape, with special emphasis on the subtle strength of women. Beginning 1980, she won nine best of show awards in seven years at major art exhibitions. At Quick Draw events (a 30 minute demonstration), Shirley creates her pastel paintings striving for a richness of color and softness of texture.
Shirley Arrants has owned three art galleries, all three also included a working studio portion of the gallery so that people could observe and become involved with the creation of an artwork. She is an artist for Leanin’ Tree Publishing Company, Bowhunters Magazine, is a selected artist for the Franklin Mint, and is Washington state’s 1997 sponsor print artist for Ducks Unlimited.
She is referenced in the books “American Artist of Renown”, “Contemporary Western Artists” and “Personalities of America”. She is a founding member and former vice- president of the American Artist of the Rockies Association, and a Charter member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.
Shirley Arrants has also participated in juried competitions at the National Pastel Society in New York, bringing in the highest-selling prices at that exhibit. She has had one-woman exhibitions in Chicago, Sedona, Arizona, and Maui; has been featured on television talk shows in Des Moines, Iowa, and Kalispell, Montana; and has been involved in taped interviews with Montana State University.
Arrants was a guest of President Reagan in the White House Executive Offices while compiling information regarding a large art project involving a women’s history theme. The Governor of the state of Montana has been her personal guest at a special art unveiling of her work.