Nancy Hampton displays her canvas Hisbiscus Red.
Nancy Hampton, first artist of the quarter
Linda Strauss-Lewis
There’s change afoot and artist Nancy Hampton is the PC Art Club’s inaugural debut painter. She is our first Artist of the Quarter, allowing you to see her artwork for all of October, November and December 2015.
2005 was the last time we honored Nancy. We chose her again this year because her metamorphosis as an accomplished painter is quite inspiring. She’s an artist who’s evolved, found her own signature style and is becoming recognized for it. She did it, she says, “by picking up instructive techniques from the many artists with whom I’ve trained.” Featured in this article is her oil painting called Hibiscus Red. It was shown at the Glendale Art Council Show in 2014 where it received a Second Place award for oils. It shows her recent experimentation with short-handled, soft brushes which make it easier for her to smoothly blend oil on canvas with few visible brush strokes. She says, “I now enjoy painting large florals on canvas, using a more graphic style than I used years ago. I find the look very satisfying and restful.” She then adds, “Color is my thing – usually bright, vivid colors. When in doubt, add color, is my motto!”
Paintings such as Hibiscus Red reflect Nancy’s personality, too – she is tranquil, welcoming and always joyful with a big smile on her face. We love having her as one of us!
Nancy met husband Jack Hampton during a summer bowling league in 1959. During their marriage, they supported each other’s educational pursuits – Jack graduating from Kent State University and Nancy completing an International Business degree. “Incidentally,” she quips, “I was the only grandmother in my graduating class!” With their two sons they were avid tent campers, hikers and skiers – traveling the United States and Canada.
Says Nancy, “When we retired, PebbleCreek’s outstanding art community seemed the perfect environment to inspire Jack’s and my interest in learning, especially in art.” Nancy worked with PebbleCreek instructors Bill Cupit, John Balogh and Fred Alves, experimenting with many different mediums. In more recent years she’s studied with Sedona floral artist, Gary Jenkins; Estes Park, Colorado, landscape artist Jim Biggers and local southwestern landscape artist David Flitner. She and Jack have also traveled to Europe with artist Charles Gruppe, painting with him in Greece, Italy, France and Monaco.
Nancy began working with under-served youngsters in Avondale, Arizona, in about 2005 as part of her church’s after-school tutoring program called Opportunity House. Ten years later, this program has grown and nurtured “many kids who had a need for art in their lives,” says Nancy. Many of our PC Art Club artists work with her, always bringing new ideas which stimulate the children’s artistic horizons and abilities. Way to go, Nancy, and all those you’ve enlisted to assist you!
Thank you Nancy, for sharing your growth and some of the ways you’ve achieved it. Congratulations once again on becoming our inaugural Artist of the Quarter. We can’t think of anyone more deserving to bring the PC Art Club forward!