Rozee Living Featured Artist: Tracey Nicholas — Abstract Landscapes Full of Light, Color & Mood
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At Rozee Living, we are always inspired by the artists who bring emotion, color, and timeless expression to their work—and to your home. Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Tracey Nicholas, a Michigan-based artist whose richly textured abstract landscapes have been delighting collectors for more than 30 years. Tracey’s oil paintings—each one a distinct original—invites you into a world of layered color, subtle light, and powerful emotion.
Her work, a dreamy fusion of modern abstraction and impressionistic warmth, is perfect for any space that longs for serenity, elegance, and a touch of atmospheric beauty. Whether you’re drawn to cloudy skies, misty seascapes, or moody fields that blur the line between memory and imagination, Tracey’s paintings offer something you won’t find anywhere else.
A Self-Taught Artist with a Lifelong Passion
Tracey’s journey as an artist began with a local painting class. What started as a simple introduction quickly ignited a deep passion. She continued to paint, develop, and evolve her style—completely self-taught beyond that first creative spark. Over time, she found her unique voice in the art world, one where color takes center stage and light becomes a subject of its own.
“I’m interested in color—its many hues, endless variations, and its ability to evoke a mood,” Tracey explains. “It’s in that spirit that I approach each canvas when I set to paint.”
This thoughtful connection to mood and emotion is evident in every brushstroke—or in Tracey’s case, every knife stroke.
Palette Knife Perfection
Rather than brushes, Tracey uses only a palette knife to apply and blend paint. Working on canvas or linen, she lays the surface flat and layers oils with deliberate, flowing movements. The result? Textured, dimensional compositions that shimmer with blended tones and soft contrasts. Light and shadow dance across each painting, evoking a moody yet calm presence—perfectly balanced between abstraction and memory.
“Using oil paint helps keep the paint wet enough to lay down colors and move them where I want—and take away where I need to,” she says. “Painting with a palette knife affords me the greatest opportunity to blend colors resulting in the effects I like.”The knife also allows for a kind of spontaneity and freedom that’s visible in the final result. Each painting becomes a one-of-a-kind journey—distinct and completely original.
Like snowflakes, no two are ever alike.
Inspired by Color Masters
Tracey draws her inspiration from some of the most beloved names in art history. She is especially influenced by Mark Rothko and Wolf Kahn, both known for their exploration of color fields and emotional abstraction. The dreamy brushwork and light-focused palettes of Mary Cassatt, Vincent van Gogh, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir have also left a lasting impression on Tracey’s artistic sensibility.
These influences are present in the way she blends warm and cool tones, often using contrast and softness to suggest light breaking through clouds, or sunlight shimmering on a distant horizon.
The final effect is more than a painting—it’s a feeling.
From Imagination to Canvas
While Tracey paints landscapes, she doesn’t rely on photos or reference images. Instead, her compositions come from memory and imagination.
“I work mostly from memory and imagination, using color and light to convey mood and atmosphere,” she explains.
This imaginative approach gives her work an almost dreamlike quality. Her landscapes feel familiar yet untethered to a specific place. A misty shoreline might evoke a trip to the coast—or a memory from childhood. A luminous sky might remind you of a storm rolling in on a warm summer night.
This emotional openness is what makes Tracey’s paintings so beloved by collectors. They invite you to feel rather than define. They create space in your home not just for art, but for stillness, reflection, and beauty.
Art for the Home—and Beyond
Tracey’s art has resonated far beyond her home studio in Michigan. She’s had the exciting opportunity to have two of her original paintings featured in a scene on the hit television show Dynasty, introducing her work to a new audience on a national stage.
For those who prefer prints, many of Tracey’s original works have been professionally reproduced as Giclée prints using certified archival inks on heavyweight matte fine art paper. These high-quality prints are a beautiful and affordable way to bring her art into your home while maintaining the depth and richness of the original oils.
And for collectors or first-time buyers who want something truly one-of-a-kind, Tracey’s original paintings are lovingly packaged and shipped with care—usually within three days of purchase.
Art That Feels Like Home
Whether you’re designing a cozy reading nook, refreshing a hallway, or searching for the perfect statement piece above a mantel, Tracey Nicholas’s work fits effortlessly into the spaces where we live, reflect, and connect.
Her cloudy skies, abstract landscapes, and moody color fields create a sense of calm and natural beauty. These are not just paintings; they are emotional landscapes—places your eyes can rest and your heart can breathe.
Why We Love Featuring Artists Like Tracey Nicholas
At Rozee Living, we believe that the right artwork can transform not just a room, but your entire experience of home. That’s why we’re passionate about discovering and featuring artists like Tracey Nicholas—creatives who pour heart, story, and soul into their work.
Tracey’s paintings are not only visually stunning but deeply emotive. Her ability to use color and texture to convey feeling is rare and powerful. Each piece adds a sense of quiet beauty to any interior and encourages you to pause, breathe, and feel something deeper.
We’re so honored to highlight her talent in our Featured Artist series and invite you to explore her collection for yourself.
Explore, Collect & Connect
To view Tracey Nicholas’s available original paintings and fine art prints, visit her Etsy shop TraceyNicholasArt or her website at Tracey Nicholas Art. And if you have any questions about her art, Tracey encourages you to reach out—she’s happy to connect and share more about her process.
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