JULY 2023
“PAINTING IN THE MOMENT”
Nancy R. Thomas
For the month of July the Artists’ Gallery will feature current works of Nancy R. Thomas in a show entitled “Painting in the Moment”. Painting from life requires moment by moment decision making. Light is constantly changing and the artist has to commit at some point to the pattern of the shadows, also, to what is important enough to include and what can be edited out. These decisions must be made in the heat of the moment, according to Thomas. “ It is the immediacy of plein air painting that she enjoys!” The show includes new work from recent Plein Air Festivals as well as studio paintings from life.
Nancy came to the Eastern Shore in 1994 from Alexandria, VA., where she pursued dual careers of dancing and painting for over two decades. Her painting classes were taken at The Torpedo Factory, The Corcoran School of Art, A Project Study Tour of Italy and Northern Virginia Community College, where she earned an Associates Degree in Fine Art in 1990. Thomas is a signature member of the Baltimore Watercolor Society and a member of Oil Painters of America and The Working Artists Forum. She has been a Partner in “The Artists’ Gallery” since 2010.
Thomas juried into the Working Artists Forum in 1996. She held the position of President for three years 2006-2009. Nancy has co-chaired and juried into the Local Color Show, held each year in conjunction with Plein Air Easton, for 17 years. She juried into Plein Air Easton in 2018. One of her exhibition pieces was purchased by The Avalon Foundation for a permanent collection featuring agricultural scenes on the Eastern Shore.
Thomas finds the light of the Eastern Shore to be captivating and enjoys capturing the waterways, dramatic skies, the farm fields and farmhouses on canvas. She paints with The Plein Air Painters of the Chesapeake Bay and is one of 28 artists juried into Paint Ellicott City 2023.
The show will hang for the month of July at the Artists’ Gallery, 239 High St, Chestertown, for more information on the artist visit www.nancyrthomas.com. Please stop by the gallery to view “Painting in the Moment” and to meet the artist on First Friday July 7, 2022 from 5 to 8 pm.