Nancy Williams Artwork

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NANCY WILLIAMS

I was educated at Indiana and Tennessee Tech Universities. Since moving to rural Tennessee, I have also been influenced by folk art. Exploring the music, food, art, and culture of the rural south has had an effect on my paintings. I especially enjoy color experimentation.

I love the naïve and effective use of color in folk art. I confront my childhood and adult nightmares in my work. They are dreamlike. I use old dress patterns (reminiscent of found objects in folk art), textured paper, and molding paste. I arrange them on the canvas and the objects begin to show themselves. Like a recurring dream, I find a girl, a dog, and monsters. In juxtaposition to the figures, I include shadows- which are the possibilities each of us possess. My dog is a god, faithful and protective. Her oversized fearless, ferocious shadow is her own self-image. The dress patterns are the roles forced upon women by our society. Skeletons and spines represent the physical foundation from which we embark upon our spiritual journey.

I paint because it is a release. I find myself in the groove, and in touch with my spirit.

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