Fluid Watercolor Paintings
by Nancy Schryer
Walking in His Grandpa's Footsteps
A Wisconsin native, I grew up in Menomonee Falls Wi, the eldest of 3 children. My husband, Jim, and I have 1 daughter, 4 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, many nieces and nephews and a golden retriever with boundless energy. My brother Mike and his wife raised 8 children in Hayward and my sister, Cheri and her husband came to Hayward years later and raised their 4 children here. After a robust 45 years caring for kids in several University Children’s Hospitals around the country, first as a clinician later in nursing leadership, Jim brought me to Hayward to retire in 2013 to be with family.
My friends, family and colleagues, voiced real concern over how I would survive retirement, but the first month I arrived in Hayward, I sought out watercolor instructors and once I started painting, I never looked back. I fell in love with watercolors and have taken, literally hundreds of classes with various teachers regionally, statewide and nationally. There is something to learn from everyone and I never get tired of learning and experimenting.
Living on the Namekagon River, and in the north woods provide constant inspiration for me and there is hardly a day passes that I don’t paint. I have a home gallery that is open to the public by appointment.
My muse is God’s creations and the peace they bring.
Artist Statement:
As a child I was always interested in painting but when it came to college, my father steered me away from the arts to the sciences- to a career that could “support me”. So, after 45 years of caring for kids as a pediatric critical care RN and leadership roles in various Children’s Hospitals, I retired and immediately studied watercolor painting- locally, regionally and nationally. After hundreds of hours of study, I still get excited watching the magic of watercolors do it’s thing!
Nature has always provided me with a sense of tranquility as well as awe and I try hard to impart those feelings in my watercolors and mixed media. While I can find inspiration in many venues, Mother Nature is my favorite. I paint from photos, memory and plein aire and hope my work brings pleasure to those who view it.
Like every artist, my work is a culmination of inspiration from my life’s journey and life’s lessons. My muse, however, always comes from nature. The colors, shapes and spirituality of nature are forever motivating me to paint. Watercolor is my preferred medium as I love the transparency and vibrancy of the layers of color.
I use all archival materials and frame my own work.
I also teach watercolor (beginner and intermediate) at Gallery and Gifts in Hayward and have a home gallery which is open by appointment, featuring over 100 pieces of my work.
“God is the true artist, the rest of us just paint”. My hope is that this work will bring you joy!
Nancy M Schryer
Fluid Water Color Paintings
Exhibit Dates: June 1 - 20, 2024
Opening: June 1, 2024, 3-5:30 p.m.