2025 January Artist of the Month

Nanci Sheppard



She Dances



9' x 12"

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I began my art study at age 4, drawing with paper and pencil as respite from my family of 7. I continued with art in Junior High School. I went to Pasadena City College and got my AA degree but went no further. I was married and the following year my son was born. After 6 years I became a single mother with a full time job.

There was little time for painting, however I did paintings in oil from time to time. I took adult Education Art classes and classes from Art Center School of Design. I I am a realistic painter but have dabbled in abstract as well. I find more satisfaction in realism.
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After retirement We moved to Baker City, Oregon. My bucket list was to restore an old home. We could not afford the California prices and Oregon was perfect. We restored 3 homes in the 12 years we were there. I was on the Gallery Committee at the Art Center in town as well as the President of the County Historical Society. I showed art at Crossroads Art Gallery and Short Term Gallery in Baker as well as Blue Turtle Gallery and Arts East in La Grande, winning several awards. We bought a winter home in Green Valley and 3 years later moved there for better medical options. After being in Green Valley a few weeks I joined the Santa Rita Art League and headed up the Figure Drawing sessions and the Plein Air group. I taught pastel at the Quail Creek Art Center for 6 years and retired last year. I also joined Tucson Pastel Society. I have shown paintings at venues in Green Valley Recreation Centers, Community for the Performing Arts gallery and at the Desert Museum Art Gallery and St Phillips Church Gallery in Tucson. I have won awards and ribbons from many of the venues. Pastelis my favorite medium. I further my art education by taking workshops from renown pastel painters at Tubac Center for Fine Art, Center for Performing Art Gallery, Santa Rita Art League and Tucson Pastel Society.