MARY BALDASANO / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Arlene McKinley stands by her still life and landscape works. Advertisement

Arlene McKinley has traveled and lived in many places with Pahrump her final stopping place. During those travels, she has found much inspiration for her painting. Without formal training, she started painting in the 1960s. Thirty years ago, she entered a competition held in Henderson and won first place, a mere beginning to what was to become a passion.

McKinley had enjoyed drawing since high school but had to balance her painting with raising her children. She mostly painted at night. Once the children were grown, she began painting more often.

She prefers to use acrylics, oil, and watercolors to paint nature scenes of flowers and landscapes. However, she enjoys painting Victorian scenes as well.

Years ago, McKinley started workshops on using watercolors and attended those held by artists such as Gary Jenkins, a well-known television painting teacher who now lives in northern Nevada, and Tony Znanenski, who teaches the use of acrylics.

"My inspiration comes from the sky," McKinley said. "The different colors and sunlight helps bring other content to life."

Her paintings are unique in that the smooth brush strokes also allow just the smallest hint of texture that compliments the subject matter. Watercolors have a blend of colors that bring their content to life, making it seem the animals pictured could actually move at any moment.

McKinley's oils make the observer feel as if he could reach in and touch the flowers or change their arrangement. One such painting reflects a grouping of white flowers with a Victorian-style white hat with a pink ribbon. It's so realistic that it seems as if the owner of the hat will be back to pick it up and go on her way.

McKinley's husband Bill and her family think her paintings are wonderful and support her efforts completely. Her skill is well accounted for as her parents were talented as well -- her father was a self-taught mechanic and her mother was a crafts enthusiast.

McKinley's children have also inherited the ability to succeed through different outlets such as doing iron-work, customizing vehicles, hairdressing and business ownership and management.

The painting is only one of the many talents McKinley has acquired. She also did lots of crafts and sold them at many events, made porcelain dolls with a wide variety of clothing, worked with beads to make jewelry, and the list goes on.

For young or mature potential painters, McKinley said, "If you want to paint, get involved with other painters and attend as many workshops as you can. If you feel like you've got it, go for it."

McKinley's paintings are on display at the Pahrump Valley Library.