Cover Artist – Grace Nolan

On Our Cover – Grace Nolan Art

Grace Nolan, a 2020 graduate of Rabun County High School is making a name for herself in the art community in Rabun County. Saying she always liked to doodle and draw, this new artist began during lockdown. She and her mom, Sarah, went to Walmart for essentials and picked up a few canvases and some paint to help pass the time. She did a few pieces of art and posted them on Facebook and got positive feedback from her friends and family.

When well known artist and Lotus Gallery owner Lizzy Falcon reached out to Grace she was blown away. Lizzy invited her to come and help with a project she had going at her gallery for local artists. Lizzy has become a mentor to many young artists, encouraging them to pursue their creative side. “Lizzy has taught me some techniques and given me tips on starting an art business. She has been such a great influence on me and one of many who have inspired me to use art to express how I feel, like an outlet,” Grace shared in a recent interview.

Her business is Grace Nolan Art and most of her artwork includes the moon. Nature and the heavens have always intrigued Grace, so she incorporates these elements into her art. “There is a mystique to the moon and I just believe there is a lot behind it,” she told me. Her crescent moon caught the attention of Moonrise Distillery who commissioned Grace and fellow artist Ali Wilkins to paint their logo on the side of one of their buildings.

You’ll almost always find the moon in her artwork which has been featured at Lotus Gallery, in a show at the Kingwood Country Club and at her father, Jack Nolan’s Fortify Kitchen & Bar in downtown Clayton. Grace also sells her art at Clayton’s Community Market on Saturdays in the warmer months. Her presence on Social Media has increased her exposure as well and you can follow Grace on Facebook and Instagram (@gracenolanart). Locally you will find her art at Ladybug Landing in Lakemont, Georgia and Blue Ridge Toys on Main Street in Clayton.

“I have a surreal vision for my art,” Grace told me. “I could not have gotten this far without the encouragement of others.” Surrealism is an art movement which finds magic and strange beauty in the unexpected and the uncanny, the disregarded and the unconventional. Grace’s art has depth and makes a statement. The unity of the Sun and Moon which is displayed in the painting on our cover this month was explained this way by the artist. “I always saw the sun and moon as opposites, two separate pieces. It occurred to me through my art that one needs the other and they are in fact connected beyond even what we can comprehend. One needs the other to be who they are. There is a magical unity that should be recognized,” she explained. I believe that each piece of art speaks individually to those who view it and Grace’s painting for me, expressed the human connection that is needed during these difficult times to bring the unity that we need to heal our nation.

“I am so thankful for my family, friends, my mentor Lizzy Falcon, and my community for their constant support. I would not have been able to be where I am now without them,” Grace included. It was important to her to send that message of thanks. While art is a huge part of Grace’s life these days, so is her education. She is currently enrolled in Lanier Technical College and plans to become a Dental Hygienist. Her future is bright and we will be keeping our eye on her.

Finding Art