“Creating art is my therapy and refuge. It allows me to feel balanced. I never decided one day to be an artist, as I have always been an artist.”

Artist Renee Noel creates contemporary acrylic cloudscape and landscape paintings inspired by the ever-changing skies of Northern Colorado and her travels. Growing up in a family of musicians and artists, she developed a lifelong appreciation for creativity, which led to a scholarship to study figure drawing at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. The dramatic skies and open landscapes surrounding her home continue to shape her artistic vision. Renee works from a spacious, light-filled studio that she and her husband designed, where she transforms memorable moments in nature into original works.

About Renee Noel's Art

Working on gallery-wrapped canvases, Renee uses acrylic paint and a dry brush technique to create luminous skies and atmospheric landscapes with remarkable depth and realism. She often photographs scenes at sunrise and sunset before blending layers of acrylic to capture shifting light, vibrant color, and a sense of grandeur. Created from the heart, each composition reflects the wonder she experienced in the landscape and invites viewers to slow down, appreciate the beauty around them, and share in that same sense of awe.

In this interview, Renee shares her process and journey as an artist.

What’s your home life like?

I live in Northern Colorado, near the Front Range, with my husband, who is a senior financial manager. I have two children. My daughter is an environmental scientist who will soon be teaching Environmental Science at a local high school this fall. My son is a sophomore at Colorado State University studying business with an emphasis in marketing.

What are your special interests?

Hiking is a favorite activity I enjoy partaking in with my family. We enjoy hiking the Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding mountains. As our family evolves, my husband and I have been traveling, and we’re looking forward to more international adventures. I absolutely enjoy going to music concerts. Visiting different music venues and listening to and dancing to live music with friends is always a treat. Lastly, I look forward to designing and developing stationery products derivative of my artwork. My design skills are utilized to develop packaging for merchandise.

What are you most proud of—whether in art or another part of your life?

I am most proud of my family. My husband and I moved out-of-state from California to Colorado twenty-one years ago, and we have made Colorado our home. We’ve been happily married for almost thirty years. I’m very proud of my children. I’m honored to be an active part of their lives. They’ve persevered and are growing into confident, kind, and motivated young adults. Lastly, after retiring from graphic design, I am proud that I changed the trajectory of my career to fine arts and established my art business.

Do you have any studio rituals that help you get into a creative flow?

I start my studio experience with silence. Sometimes I’ll just sit in front of my canvas, deciding how much I want to accomplish that day. Next, I put my earbuds on and listen to my music. Music is the heartbeat of my creativity. It sets my mood and gives me the energy I need to paint once more.

How do you structure your day?

I start my day early by taking care of my dog, Roddey, who is my eighty-five-pound yellow Labrador retriever. My husband and I like to have coffee together before we start our day and catch up on our lives. Thereafter, I go for a run along the Front Range, enjoying the mountain views. Finally, I work in my studio and create for a few hours, followed by daily responsibilities.

Where do you find inspiration for your art?

I look up at the sky for my inspiration. I don’t have to go far to be inspired. By living so close to the Colorado Front Range and open spaces, I am fortunate to be surrounded by surreal skies. Another way I find inspiration is through my travels. Different cloudscapes, landscapes, and cultures motivate me to create something new.

Tell us about your evolution as an artist.

Creating art is my therapy and refuge. It allows me to feel balanced. I never decided one day to be an artist, as I have always been an artist. In my youth, drawing was my first medium. I refined my skills when I attended university to study illustration, painting, and design in Los Angeles, California. Since I was paying for my own college education, I needed a career that was more lucrative. Therefore, I moved to Northern California, attended a new college, and changed my major from a fine arts major to a communications degree with an emphasis in graphic design. I was a graphic designer for many years, working for several corporations. As my life evolved and I was starting a family, I continued to work by taking on several graphic design projects. I reached a point in my life where I craved a more organic way of creating. This brought me back to drawing and painting. I built my credibility by participating in several artist groups, art walks, and exhibiting in art venues. Selling my artwork and receiving recognition and awards prompted me to start my own art business. 

How do you decide when an artwork is finished?

Knowing when a piece of artwork is finished is instinctual. Through experience, I know a piece is complete when the quality of a composition feels substantial.

What is the most interesting observation someone has made about your work?

I don’t know if it’s as much of an observation as it is a feeling. I had one buyer tell me that she didn’t care how much a particular painting costs. She needed to purchase it because the colors in the piece made her feel “sheer joy,” and she needed to feel that joy every day. I had another observer tell me that the painting, Ominous Clouds, made him feel “mesmerized.” I hope that was a positive feeling.

Is there an artwork from another artist that has had a significant impact on you?

My favorite artist and female pioneer is Georgia O’Keeffe. I can’t possibly pick one painting of hers that has made an impact on me because there are too many. My favorite paintings of hers are Heliconia, Crab’s Claw Ginger, Above the Clouds, Lake George Reflection, Red Canna, Red and Yellow Cliffs , and The Cliff Chimneys.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings exude movement, texture, bold shapes, and color. I appreciate how she was able to successfully parallel complexity and simplicity in her paintings. There is no creative hesitation in her compositions. I admire her transparency as a person and an artist. Her artwork is as authentic as she is.

What’s your favorite museum?

Currently, my favorite museum is Meow Wolfe in Denver, Colorado. Meow Wolf is more than an art museum rather, it’s an experience. There are several facets to it. The museum is animated, musical, interactive, and visual. Meow Wolf is truly a creative experience. It’s always evolving and does not follow set rules. It’s a place for the senses.

Is there anything else you’d like to share to help viewers better understand your work?

When I create, it’s really not work. Making art is an extension of who I am. Every painting is created with heart. When I’m designing a composition, I’m trying to give the viewer that elated feeling I had when I originally took the reference for the painting.

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If you enjoyed this article about Renee Noel's life and artwork, we recommend reading our interviews with Joanie Ford's impressionist landscape paintings and Dowa Hattem's abstract floral paintings.