We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nancy COX. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nancy below.

Nancy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I recently collaborated with a friend and colleague in an event at my house and countryside property entitled “The Joy of Nature Immersion.” Jennifer is a recently certified Forest Therapy Guide. The event was held for five hours as an open house to my displayed watercolor landscapes, all done on location, and for sale. Jennifer led guided walks on our 40 acre property during that time. I was inspired to create this event after I realized that Jennifer’s passion for the natural world and her desire to engage people in the healing power of nature beautifully compliments my passion for the natural world, which I hope comes through in my paintings. I don’t use photographs when I do landscapes. I set up in the open air in front of my subject.
Quite a few of my paintings were executed in places where Jennifer led her walks that day.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always and only wanted to be an artist. I am passionate about making art, art museums, art history.. all of it! I am a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago. I took watercolor painting as a student and fell in love with the medium. It is typically what people associate with me when they consider what I do. I believe what is less understood is that I think of myself first as a designer. Strong and effective composition is important to me. Since I am a designer first I can work with business owners in setting up design standards for their office spaces, help them in making decisions on sourced materials and then create all the artwork. I recently completed what I just described for a local business. And none of the commissioned artwork was watercolor!
When I do a landscape in watercolor, I set up in the landscape. If I am in my studio working on a floral or still life, that floral or still life is in front of me. As a student of art history I’ve learned the benefit.of working this way.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love the fact that creativity is boundless. There is always something new to learn, explore or engage in. It seems like every time I visit an art museum, I come away with more inspiration. There is never enough time to make all the art I am inspired to do. This is frustrating and rewarding at the same time.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The major pivot time in my life so far was when my husband, two children and I moved from the Chicago suburbs to 40 acres in the Driftless Area of south central Wisconsin. Because of the move, each of us, as we were exposed to such newness, naturally explored new directions.
I was exposed to beautiful landscape every day, all through the seasons. We cleaned up the woods, established prairie and designed and maintained gardens. I began to love and appreciate the natural world in a way in which I had never done. I use the landscape and the flowers from our gardens in my artwork. My work is a natural extension of my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: nancycoxartwork.com
• Instagram: nancycox_artwork