Nancy Kurz - About Me

Finishing art school in the 70’s, Nancy married and raised 3 boys, one of which is a special needs Autistic son. There was no time for art during the years of survival of a medically fragile son so Nancy carried her camera and began photographing her children, light, color, sunsets and studying compositions. “Thank God for my camera” as it was my only source of creativity other than observing during those years of further training my eye. As our son grew less medically fragile, Nancy was able to bring her art career a bit more to the front burner so to speak and opened a studio in a historic building in Independence Oregon in the 90’s. With a major in Illustration and minor in Clay, she began teaching art and doing graphic work and illustrations. She also opened her studio to fellow artists annually to show their work. This drawing together of artists in Independence inspired the artists to open their own gallery, thus the River Gallery in Independence was born. She illustrated two children’s stories and various illustration pieces as well as murals for local businesses in Independence and Monmouth area.

Nancy was influenced by the works of Edith and Francis Schaeffer. “We are made in God’s image, He is the Creator”. We are to create and be creative. How else could I take this treasure to others and share it with them but to “Teach Art”.

She began teaching at the Salem Art Association in the 90’s and then began teaching as an Artist in Residence through the Arts In Education Program in three counties.

Nancy moved her studio to another historic building in Monmouth in 2001. Nancy continues to teach and holds a Ladies Art Night in the Spilled Ink Studio at 283 e. Main in Monmouth as well as private lessons.

Nancy received her Bachelor of Fine Arts back in the 70’s at Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. She was inspired in her clay experiences through the instruction of Tom Coleman at the Museum Art School in Portland prior to moving to Otis Art Institute. She also studied under Joseph Muignanni and Bentley Schadd while at Otis and found that she not only loved working in clay but was also drawn to Illustration and painting. She has been teaching Art for over 20 years and is now settling into creating more and teaching less. An exciting time in many a teaching artists life.