About the Artist
Bio
About the Artist
Renee Bates, b.1963
Creating oil paintings inspired by beautiful places, well-worn paths, interesting objects, and animals both wild and domesticated, Renee has an eye for detail but strives to bring emotion to her brushstrokes.
"My first exposure to art was seeing my older brothers draw cars exceptionally. I didn't think I had an ounce of this ability. As it turns out, what I needed was instruction. I'm grateful to have taken the step toward the beautiful and curious. My prior life was spent working in seemingly unrelated fields, but there was always something happening creatively. With a background in nonprofit conservation and preservation, gardening, and interior decorating, I have found that all our experiences inform the present.
Along with a painting practice, I enjoy hiking the woods for inspiration. Solo observation in the gentle stillness, along with meditation, is at the heart of my creativity. Perhaps "the muse" works things out in the quiet.
Education, and Process...
Outside of a couple of fine art drawing classes at Watkins College of Interior Design, there was no other formal visual art instruction. It was transformative to my prior belief that I could not draw. Early on, art had focused on music, playing the violin, piano, and guitar, and singing. I enjoy singing, still. I find that music is integral to life. Can you imagine all the feelings and inspiration that you would not have felt had there been no music?
In 2014, I took my first painting course in the Cumberland Mountains. I was smitten, and since then I have been on a self-directed study journey with artists near and far whose work I admire.
When beginning a work, I start out with quiet, spa-like music, or classical pieces, and as I get deeper, finding my way, I will advance to movie scores and beyond. With those older brothers, I was exposed to the best of the 60's and 70's folk and rock offerings. Music is how I met the love of my life, David. We played and sang together. We have since enjoyed working together, as well. He is a third-generation nurseryman, and now I focus mostly on making art.
Whatever you think, you're right...
Some simply don't believe this, but after some time in this field, I feel that anyone can paint or draw well. It takes desire, curiosity, instruction, and practice. Of course, some have more natural tendencies and aptitudes, but experience and practice can make up the difference. I enjoy encouraging others to follow their own creativity with joy. If you feel a nudge, listen to it. Answer it. Adventure with it. Have fun and don't take yourself so seriously. Find a class and leave the judgment at the door.
Please share your experience with creativity. I'd love to hear about what you are learning on your own adventure."
press
current exhibits
Of Wood and Light, Nashville Painters Salon & Cumberland Furniture Guild, Sounding Stone Gallery, 74 West College St, Monteagle, TN through September 19, 2026
Slow Burn, a cigar box show with the Nashville Painters Salon, Arcade Arts Downtown Nashville Arcade, 4th Avenue, through August 27, 2026
upcoming exhibits
Colors of Shelby benefit, Friends of Shelby Park & Bottoms, Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, Nashville, October 22 - 25, 2026
past exhibits in Tennessee
Love the Lake, Love the Land benefit, Friends of Radnor Lake, The Chestnut Group, Nashville, May 13-16, 2026
West Nashville Art Crawl, Artist's Studio, December 6, 2025
Painting the Parks, Friends of Franklin Parks/ The Chestnut Group, Franklin, November 6 - 9, 2025
Tennessee Landscapes, Ashblue, benefit, The Chestnut Group for Land Trust of Tennessee, Nashville, TN September 1-30, 2025
Finding Sanctuary, Friends of Warner Parks / The Chestnut Group, Nashville, April 17-20, 2025
Nashville Painters Salon Debut Exhibit, 223 4th Ave N, 65 Arcade, 2nd Floor, Sarah Clinton's Studio 60, April 12, 2025
Ashblue, Pop Up Art Show, benefit, The Chestnut Group for Land Trust of Tennesse, Nashville, TN September 1-30, 2024
Colors of Shelby benefit, The Chestnut Group / Friends of Shelby Park & Bottoms, Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, Nashville, TN October 30 - Nov 3, 2024
West Nashville Art Crawl, Artist's Studio, December, 2024
Sunshine & Shadows, Galerie Tangerine, Nashville, June-July 2024
Painting the Greenways benefit, Greenways for Nashville, April 2024
Love the Lake, Love the Land, Friends of Radnor Lake, The Chestnut Group, Nashville, November 2023
Squared Creativity: A Local Girls’ Art Showcase, Square Market and Café, Columbia, Tennessee, October 2023
The Colors of Shelby to benefit Friends of Shelby Park & Bottoms, April 2023
Painting the Parks, Friends of Franklin Parks, The Chestnut Group, Franklin, 2022
Speaking for the Trees and Lockeland Springs Park, Friends of Lockeland Springs, The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2022
Love the Lake, Love the Land, Friends of Radnor Lake, The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2021
The History of the Jewish Press, Nashville, July 2020
Art to the Rescue - TN Tornado Relief Art Auction, Online 2020
Artist’s Open Studio, Tennessee Craft Holiday Crawl, Nashville, 2019
Love the Lake, Love the Land, Friends of Radnor Lake, The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2019
Own a PART of the Park, Centennial Park Conservancy/The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2019
Cumberland River Compact/The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2018
Honor the Earth, Friends of Warner Parks / The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2018
Art Crawl, Nashville Pilates Co. Houston Station, Nashville, December, 2017
Solo Show, Bates Nursery & Garden Center, Nashville, November, 2017
Love the Lake, Love the Land, Friends of Radnor Lake, The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2017
Art Studio Open House, Two Artists Show, Nashville, 2017
Chestnuts at the Hermitage, Hermitage Association / The Chestnut Group, Hermitage, 2017
Holiday Open House, Wilkinson Residence, December, Nashville, 2016
Scenes of the Harpeth, Harpeth Conservancy / The Chestnut Group, Franklin, 2016
Love the Lake, Love the Land, Friends of Radnor Lake / The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2015
Cumberland on Canvas, Cumberland River Compact/ The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2015
A Heart for the Parks, Friends of Warner Parks / The Chestnut Group, Nashville, 2015
teaching
University School Evening Classes, 2016 - 2020
affiliation
The Chestnut Group is the first arts organization that I joined back in 2014. Through our organization, I am honored to give back to nature and our Tennessee community through collaborative art shows with like-minded nonprofits, and to have the opportunity to share my paintings in our exhibitions. I served as president for two years, which gratefully helped me see firsthand the impact that individuals in a collective can have on a shared goal. Membership allows me the opportunity to make new friendships with many great artists.
