About the Artist

ABOUT THE ARTIST — ARLINE R. TINUS (1937–2013)

Painter of light, distance, and memory

Arline R. Tinus was a painter whose work was shaped by the vastness, solitude, and shifting light of the American Southwest—especially the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. These landscapes formed the emotional and visual foundation of her art throughout her life.

Her later works developed an unusual focal quality: they come fully into clarity only when viewed from a distance, as though the viewer must step back into the scale of the canyon itself. In her final years, as her eyesight faded, Arline painted increasingly from memory and intuition. Some of her most luminous pieces were created when she could no longer fully see them—a quiet act of trust between the artist, her craft, and the light she carried internally.

Arline often layered intricate colors using unconventional tools—spatulas, toothpicks, and Q-tips alongside traditional brushes. These methods gave her paintings a subtle dimensionality, a textured surface that shimmered with movement, depth, and reflected light. The high-definition photography used for these archival prints reveals tonal subtleties and details that even close viewers often miss in person, bringing new life to her work.

She chronicled her creative and personal journey in Finding the River Magic: A Painter’s Journey Down the Colorado River (A.R.T. Publishing, 2014; ISBN 0578129698), a book that reflects her lifelong reverence for water, light, and the enduring landscapes that shaped her artistic vision.

Today, the Grand Canyon Paintings Project continues her legacy—preserving her work with the same care, fidelity, and respect that defined her life as an artist.

 

CURATOR’S NOTE — CRAIG TINUS

I maintain this collection in honor of my mother’s work and the landscapes that inspired her.

As a scientist and educator with a lifelong connection to wild places, I approach the preservation of her paintings with the same observational care she brought to creating them.

These archival prints are a continuation of her voice—held with intention, accuracy, and deep respect for the canyon she loved.