Maryville’s Pinkie Mistry brings nature to life in canvas and murals
Pinkie Mistry can measure the progress of her art not only in its development but also in its size. Originally working as a graphic designer after completing that program at Pellissippi State, Pinkie designed small pieces like brochures and rack cards, working largely for the tourist-related businesses in Sevier County, where she lived.
Now she’s creating large canvases, working in oils and concentrating mainly on florals and landscapes. And she paints even bigger murals that adorn buildings and walls both in Sevier and Blount counties, including the magnolia bloom she painted on the building her new gallery and studio now occupy in downtown Maryville.
A native of Canada who grew up in Sevierville, Pinkie eased into her painting career when her graphic design clients learned of her talents and began requesting custom pieces for their homes or businesses. By about 2015, she was concentrating far more on art than graphic design, working from her living room. That proved to be a challenge with the oversized canvases she prefers. Which led her to move her work into the loft space above Neighborly Books on Broadway. Eventually that space wasn’t big enough either. Last August she moved into her own building on West Harper, a spacious and bright area with room to paint and display her art and host occasional gatherings, like the event she held for the Blount Memorial Foundation.
A self-taught artist, Pinkie has been drawing since she was young. She’s illustrated children’s books, and her large-scale murals can be found at Anakeesta, the Seymour Branch Library, on Bruce Street in downtown Sevierville, on the Parkway in Gatlinburg as well as at local wineries and a pediatrics office.
“I use a lot of different styles and ideas,” she says. “I don’t like doing the same thing over and over.” Still, she says her art is distinguishable by its size, texture — she often applies paint with a palette knife — and nature themes. “I love florals and our mountains; they inspire a lot of my work.”
Pinkie’s work can be found on Facebook and Instagram, and at her website, pinkiemistry.com. Her gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m.
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