About the Artist

Nancy was born at the beginning of a new decade.  1960.  Life was changing fast.  Nancy was always drawn to art while growing up

as she loved working with her hands and creating something of value and use as it could make someones life happier. Beginning

with mudpies to "feed" people, to coloring and paint by number, to macrame plant hangers, copper tin punch, crochet, string art,

glass craft and more, she did it.  As a teen, she worked at a church related summer camp on Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.  Working in a cabin with tons of windows, and a backdrop of water and mountains and sunshine, she busied herself teaching campers all kinds of  crafts and drawing.  All of this gave her a sense of  purpose and solidity to her ever changing world.

In 1979 after graduating  from a boarding academy overlooking the Fingerlakes of central N.Y, where art was her favorite subject, she set out to find who she was in the job world.  Sitting at an office desk being a paralegal secretary did not float her boat.  She tried many avenues.  Once again, she turned to art, as her stepdad, knowing of her love for art and desire to learn oil painting, had a customer that was a renowned artist.  He took her to view his oil paintings and it sunk into her very soul.  Lou Pelky became her art instructor for the next year.  He was a wonderful teacher, drawing her into each painting with stories and instruction.  

By 1980, Nancy married the love of her life, Mark Clayburn and was whisked off from Albany N.Y. to a large farm near Buffalo N.Y.  Life got busier, and more moves all over the country and 2 children.  Her son developed autism and a seizure disorder and took up much attention.  During this time she ended up back in Albany N.Y. after 10 years.  She went back to Lou Pelky and took another 5 years of classes with him and painted numerous paintings.  Once again, Art became her solid place in life.  Raising an autistic son was extremely stressful and going to art classes took her stress levels down and gave her solid ground once again.  

As the years came and went, her love for art sat on the back burner due to the fact that she had no confidence to paint on her own. Before Lou Pelky passed,  he told her many times to paint, that she had a lot of potential, but she still did not believe in herself, although she did paint here and there as he gave her pointers and challenges.

At age 52, after difficulties with her sons autism and seizure disorder, she had to get out of the winter gloom of TN.  She landed in sunny Sarasota, Florida for 6 weeks in the winter.  With nothing much to do, she decided to try her hand at watercolor.  She was hooked.  The following winter she came back to Florida and worked as a camp host at a state campground near Sarasota.  One day she spotted easels and painters and was so excited she ran over to speak to one of the artists.  Anne told her where the teacher was. This was a thrill as it was none other than Vladisav Yeliseyev.  She had followed him on Facebook and recieved newsletters from his school of art.  After a million questions, she started taking watercolor classes from the Classic Russian trained artist and even took his painting tour to Provence, France for a week of teaching.  After a few years of watercolor, she returned back  to oil with a new twist from her past style. Now she uses both mediums.

Taking classes from many teachers and learning to paint Plein Air with other accomplished artists along with critiques, reading, studying, trying new and difficult challenges has spurred her on.  Confidence is a nice new word in her vocabulary as she moves forward creating beautiful and colorful paintings to cheer the walls and hearts of her patrons.  

Nancy, her husband Mark and their son Seth now reside in Englewood, Florida, where she can pursue her life as an artist amongst many other excellent artists. In the summer, they take a summer heat hiatus and stay and paint in the mountains of North Carolina.  She enjoys  teaching others, as she understands the struggles of learning, and how much healing is in learning.

Art has pulled Nancy through many trying situations in her life, especially in the caretaking of her son.  She gives God, the true Creator, all the glory for His mighty Grace to see her through, to truly be her Rock, and her best teacher of all as He brings to her hands the gift and talents she posseses.  She thanks her Husband, Mark for always having the confidence in her all along,  It just took her awhile to grasp it.  He has always encouraged her and has never stopped her from persuing her dreams.  

Her hopes and goals are to bring you to solid ground also, to create pleasure and beauty and by the Grace of God, may her works of art bring Peace and much Joy and Solidity to your walls!