Nancy Grabowski
El Prado, NM
Concinnity
Acrylic and cold wax on Masonite
18" x 24" x 1"
2024
$885
About
As a contemporary artist and painter, I feel very blessed to be living in the beautiful land of Taos, New Mexico. An avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, the ambience of this area stimulates my creativity. Some days I find it hard to believe that I grew up in New Jersey, 15 minutes outside of New York City. A blessing in disguise because that gave me access to the incredible inspiration of museums, galleries, and artists.
However, I felt that the East Coast was too crowded, so I left to discover the wild west. I landed in the Bay Area in Northern California where I studied jewelry at the College of Marin and the Revere Academy in San Francisco. For several years, I designed, created, and exhibited handcrafted metal jewelry in juried shows and galleries in California, New Mexico and Colorado.
Eventually the light and spirit of the west drew me to revisit my earlier endeavors of painting. I earned an associate degree in fine art/studio at the Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I loved making jewelry but I discovered that painting was a better way to express myself and my love of color and light.
Primarily working in acrylic paint and mixed media, I also enjoy charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, and photography. My primary focus of subjects is abstract and landscape. I access memories from my dreams and meditations and utilize them in my work. For my landscapes, I utilize my own photography, capturing the outdoor landscapes of where I live and travel.
In 2014 I relocated to Taos for a position at the ski valley. The opportunity to ski more often and so much closer to home was a huge lure. The house we eventually purchased has a small studio attached to the garage, facilitating the ease of painting more often and more comfortably. Now that I am retired, I have the time and energy to paint every day!
In April 2024, I began showing my work at the Taos Artist Collective. In May 2024, I showed 2 paintings in a group show at the Art Mozaik in Santa Fe. I am currently a member of the Taos Artist Organization and the Taos Watercolor Society.
Artist Statement
Taos has become such an inspiration to me! I moved here from Santa Fe 10 years ago and I do more art, experiment more, take more classes and meet more artist than I ever have. Surrounded by all the amazing energy and light, the incredible air and the nature, as an artist I could not ask for more. Spring through fall I spend hiking, camping and painting outdoors, while winter finds me skiing and mostly painting in my studio. Being outdoors exercising and enjoying where I live fills me with so much creativity energy.
My art is primarily acrylic and mixed media. Recently I have been experimenting with cold wax for acrylics and integrating more textures. Noticing that I had moved to smaller canvas for studies and demos, I've been getting back to using larger canvas/boards recently. Color fascinate me so I try and find ways to use more colors, or at times less colors in my palette and compositions. The last 2 years I have limited my landscape palette to 5 colors and white. While painting abstract I allow the colors to pick me. My abstracts are not planned and when completed are usually a surprise to me.
Since I retired this year I have so much more time to paint, learn, experiment and create. This new found freedom has allowed more creativity to flow through me. So happy to be in Taos inspired by everything around me.
Art from Nancy Grabowski in other TAAC exhibitions