ArtistsNetwork.com 87KP: At what point could you tell you’d transitioned from a begin-
ner to an intermediate painter—and then from an intermediate
to an advanced painter? What has helped you grow?
NKM: I began painting as a child and enrolled in exten-
sion painting classes from the University of Illinois
while I was in high school. I went on to get a BFA from
that university as a figure painter
and began my masters in painting
at Eastern Illinois University soon
after, where I focused on foliage
painting. I also taught there for three
years. I suppose my intermediate
years were during university train-
ing and, once I’d finished that, the
advanced-painter years began.
I began a gallery and frame shop in
1979, while I was in college and, with
the help of my husband, have contin-
ued along that path all these years.
That business, now known as Art De
Triumph & Artful Framer Studios, in
Chicago, is still going strong. It’s supported by a wonderful
daily staff, which has allowed me to add travel-teaching to
my schedule. The teaching has helped me grow as a painter
as I work with eager students, and it allows me to see
inspiring new places for painting.KP: What is one thing an artist could
start doing every day that would
improve his or her art in the next year?
NKM: Draw, draw, draw! Knowledge
of perspective is important, whether
you’re drawing structures, figures
orlandscapes.Kelly Powers is an artist and an editor at
Creative Catalyst Productions.Sun Tracks
pastel on mounted
board, 16x20
“I’VE FOUND THAT WORK DONE QUICKLY IS USUALLY MORE FRESH
AND INSPIRED THAN WORK THAT HAS BEEN LABORED OVER.”
—NANCIE KING MERTZGET THE
VIDEO
The video
workshop Nancie
King Mertz:
Urban Pastel
Painting, is
available through various online
sources, including Liliedahl
(lilipubsorders.com), Creative
Catalyst (ccpvideos.com) and
Amazon (amazon.com).LEARN MORE ABOUT NANCIE KING
MERTZ ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM,
AND AT NANCIEKINGMERTZ.COM.