I believe consistency and creativity are not always compatible, preferring to evolve than to become a manufacturer of a certain style or subject.

Currently I use pastels to work in plein air and also to work out color studies for studio oil paintings.  In both mediums, I work to eliminate unnecessary or distracting elements- to strengthen through simplifying.  My process is a constant study in technique, subject, and media.

Although, art is a visual communication, I'm not looking to tell a story.  I want my art to seduce the viewer by focusing on the elements of art rather than a particular subject.  I push color to create mood, atmosphere, and to dramatically enrich subject matter.  It is a key element in creating my paintings and what attracts people to my work.

ARTIST BIO:  Nancy Ness' formative years were spent in a cookie cutter neighborhood of brick houses on Long Island, NY.  Her unconventional life began by living in a tree house and then on a sailboat.  Now she and her husband split their time between two lifestyles.  In the winter they ski and live near Gore Mountain, NY.  when spring arrives, they move onto their boat to sail and live near Greenport, NY.  To accommodate this divided lifestyle, Nancy paints in two ways.  In the winter, she works in her studio but in the summer switches to painting in plein air.

Nancy feels her conscious decision to pursue the arts came at age 10 and was particularly inspired by Picasso's lifelong youthful, creative spirit.

This lead to one year of college at Visiual Ats in New York City before escaping to California.  For four years, she was a

perpetual art student until moving and matriculating into the University of Minnesosta where she completed a BFA while working as a graphic designer.  Four years after that, she moved back to New York and completed a BFA in Communication Arts from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY.

Nancy then worked in publication and promotion for twenty-five years.  She won awards and designed for such clients as Jaguar Cars, IBM, Price Waterhouse, Long Island University, and many other well-known corporations.  In 2007, after years of art direction, she broke her commuter chains to once again pick up a paint brush.

Color is key for Nancy.  It has been an important element in both her design career and fine artwork.  She pushes color to create mood, atmosphere and to dramatically enrich subject matter.  The other key is hard work which she refers to as "miles of continuous artwork".  Again, Picasso provided creative guidance, "Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working."

Nancy finds her computer graphic skills are now a useful tool in manipulating reference photos for her paintings  She is constantly experimenting with different mediums, surfaces and framework.  She feels consistency and creativity are not always compatible and prefers to evolve rather than become a manufacturer of a certain style or subject.

Since leaving the design world, Nancy has worked in oils and pastels.  She has shown her work in two national shows and one international competition.  She has also participated in four solo shows and seven group shows.  She is a member of the Adirondack Pastel Society, and in 2011 she became an Associate Member of the prestigious Pastel Society of America.

At this point Nancy has the freedom to say, "It's important for me to do what's right for the painting by being flexible and sensitive.  For so many years, in the design world I had to please and alter work for different clients.  Now, it's time for the work to lead the way."