Josephine Cora Prins

Using pyrography and watercolor, I create paintings that explore this conversation. Each element that is used in my artistic process is very intentional. Wood is used as a canvas for my paintings to bring an element of growth and natural beauty. The wood grain adds movement to each piece as the eye explores the various aspects of the work. For my underpaintings, I use burning to map out the composition to make way for renewal and creation. Watercolor fills these voids providing a sense of renewal and clarity, allowing for the story to peek through. It adds an element of transparency that gives space to experience the conversation between wood, burns and pigments much like the conversation between nature and our soul.

Josephine Cora Prins is a Minnesota based pyrography and watercolor artist. In her work, she uses a variety of pyrography techniques to balance the natural wood grain with burning and color to create a refined landscape. Her inspiration is drawn from travels with her family as well as local lakes and landscapes in the area.
Josephine has a bachelor’s degree in graphic communications management from the University of Wisconsin Stout with a minor in Spanish and Art. This degree led her to start out her career as a sewing production manager at a printing and signage company in Wisconsin. Wood burning and lettering soon became an outlet to escape the stress during the day.
Josephine began sharing her projects online and began to receive requests for commissions. New projects led her work to evolve into what it is today and have allowed her the opportunity to be home with her girls while pursuing a career as an artist. She is now an award-winning artist showing her work nationwide including gallery representation in Atlanta, Georgia as well as showings in the Twin Cities area.

My work is inspired by nature’s ability to speak to the soul, extending all that is good, true and beautiful to our hearts. References for my paintings are taken primarily from my own photography, which gives me the opportunity to appreciate and reflect on the innate creativity and beauty that is found in nature. Through my art I create space to pause and experience the conversation between nature and soul, witnessing its ability to heal, inspire and transform.

With each season in life, I am finding myself in need of transformation and healing, longing for love and truth to settle my heart. I have felt this deeply as I continue to evolve in my sense of self as a wife, mother and artist. The world has thrown many challenges into my life in ways I would have never expected. They had left me spiraling and uncertain, lacking trust and balance. I finally found peace in my soul when I took time to reflect on the truth that is found in nature and is present in the moment. As I faced new challenges, I found myself returning to nature to find refuge in witnessing the undeniable beauty and finding peace in that connection to the spirit. As a result, I have seen a transformation in my inner self that continues to evolve each day.

I invite viewers to experience this connection with me as I explore the intricate beauty that God has created around us. I invite them to discover the moments of light that emerge from the ashes of our past when we are healed and renewed, much like nature’s ability to remain balanced through changing seasons giving space for loss and life.