Nancy Neill

Artist Statement

Abstract Color Series-
My abstract oil pastel series explores the feelings and emotions generated by color. Most of these paintings use warm colors to evoke a passionate and uplifting feeling. Each painting is done in a unique color to evoke a slightly different emotion.

The paintings are oil pastel on paper. Oil pastel provides one of the most intense colorations of all mediums. Each painting is done in many layers of oil pastel, developing a thick and creamy surface. Earlier layers are revealed using a palette knife to cut back into the surface and create various marks and gestures. I think of my work as passionate and joyful and full of movement.

Collage Series-
The work in this series is from a period in my life when I was searching for a sense of balance.

These collage paintings reveal contrasting elements and show the struggle to find the unity between them. Most collages have strong lights and darks, and sometimes color, and contain elements of drawing and painting. The challenge is to make these competing elements work together in a composition. I first focus on drawing and then include various shapes and colors while trying to integrate the various passages into some type of harmony. The black and white/beige shapes speak to the contrasts in life and the way they effect our lives.

Each collage has shapes added and subtracted over and over again. This continues until a sense of balance is achieved. I think of my work as passionate and joyful and filled with movement.

I have been painting for more than 25 years and my work has been exhibited in numerous shows throughout the region. This year the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia acquired 5 of my paintings for a new area of the hotel. Last year Woodmere Art Museum acquired one of my paintings for their permanent collection. I have won several awards and have been featured in a number of publications. Most recently my work was in a solo exhibition at the Muse Gallery in Philadelphia. I received a B.S. degree from Miami University of Ohio and a Masters degree from the University of Chicago.