by Kristi Spencer
Tina Arnall’s artistic journey reminds us that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. A Monett, Missouri, resident with a love for painting, Tina’s creative path has taken a few turns. Though she majored in art during college, her career as a graphic designer for over 30 years left her paintbrushes gathering dust.
This changed in spring 2022 when Tina painted a portrait of her sister’s house in Virginia as a thankyou gift. That thoughtful gesture reignited her passion for painting. Her friends and coworkers quickly took notice and began commissioning their own custom pieces, from cherished homes to historic buildings—and even structures that no longer exist.
By February 2023, Tina decided to turn her newfound passion into a business. Two weeks later, another twist: Tina experienced a health crisis when she had a heart attack. Surprisingly, she saw it as a blessing. She realized that life is too short not to pursue her passions. “I finally feel like myself,” she said. “What I do feeds my soul.”
Tina’s art has become a cherished gift for various occasions, including Christmas presents, realtor closing gifts and heartfelt mementos for aging parents. Tina’s artistic style is characterized by incredible attention to detail. Whether it’s a butterfly or a family pet, the details make Tina’s art so personal.
One of her impressive projects involved recreating a portrait of the Richey Mill in Richey, Missouri, from an old photograph with only a fuzzy picture of the mill to work from. Tina researched ways to accurately recreate the mill on paper, from the building’s color to the type of dam at the site, even incorporating a kitten she saw during her visit. She also worked on a series of paintings depicting
the town of Wentworth, Missouri, in the early 1900s. Tina researched the town’s history, made many visits to the Newton County Historical Park & Museum, and carefully studied Wentworth’s past through
newspaper articles and books.
Tina’s art has also offered comfort to those in grief. She painted a touching portrait of Evan Boettler, a
young man from Aurora, Missouri, who passed away, capturing a special moment of him fishing with his dad at Table Rock Lake. 
The painting includes personal touches, like a nod to Evan’s high school, symbolic trees and a bright red cardinal watching over the scene. With the family’s blessing, a printof this artwork is available for purchase, with proceeds supporting Evan’s Voice, a nonprofit that raises awareness about sextortion.
To learn more about her art, visit www.watercolorsbytina.com. You can also find her work on Etsy.