Tonya D Harwood
Breath of Blue, Oil on Canvas
Tonya Harwood is an oil painter based in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where she has lived for nearly three decades. She earned her degree in art from the University of Delaware, but it is the forests, mountain trails, and changing light of the Blue Ridge that have become her greatest teachers and inspiration. Her landscapes are less about documenting a specific location and more about capturing the emotion, atmosphere, and quiet moments that nature offers.
When she isn't painting, Tonya can often be found hiking or mountain biking the trails that inspire her work, gathering ideas that later find their way onto the canvas. She creates from her home studio, usually with her dogs keeping her company.
In addition to her work as an artist, Tonya serves as Executive Director of the Haywood County Arts Council, where she is passionate about supporting the creative community. She enjoys encouraging artists and finding opportunities for them to share their work with others. Helping artists succeed while continuing to grow as a painter herself brings purpose to both her work and her life.
