uncommon ground 3800 n. clark street . chicago, il . 773-929-3680
1401 w. devon avenue . chicago, il . 773-465-9801
subscribe to newsletter:
Uncommon Ground ^ Nancy Ethiel
Nancy Ethiel

My work as an artist began in childhood, continued through college and early marriage. The summer before my second child was born (in August) found me bending, sweating, over 5-foot-square canvases laid out on the floor, creating boldly abstract acrylic paintings. Then life took over, and I put my paints to rest for 15 years.

When I took up watercolor seriously (I'd dabbled in it in the past) in 1986, I loved it at once. The fresh and glowing quality of transparent watercolor cannot be matched by any other medium.

To my surprise, I discovered that not only had I not lost any skills during my 15-year hiatus, they had grown as I had matured. I had more to say in my paintings, and was better able to translate what was in my head onto paper.

I have only recently begun to show my work, feeling that becoming involved in the business of art would take away from the pure pleasure I experience in creation (a conflict I have experienced with my writing, which is my livelihood.). However, I have had pieces in a number of juried shows, including one at the College of Lake County. Venus Rising from the Earth was mentioned as a "stand-out" in a review of the show by the Pioneer Press's art critic Michael Bonesteel. He said, "This elegant vertical diptych depicts a woman in an almost naive style, dramatically dressed in red against a blue-black backdrop. Above it, a smaller second painting of a red flower against blue-black clouds echoes the first."

Recently, I have been experimenting with a series of small, highly detailed paintings set, jewel-like, in a much larger background that is a loose, abstracted version of the central painting. In addition to these landscapes, floral paintings, and folding screens, I take particular delight in painting portraits. I am, at present, accepting commissions for portraits and screens, as well as having a number of paintings and prints available for purchase.




Visit the Nancy Ethiel web-site
Email Nancy Ethiel

Other artists in the Nancy Ethiel 'hood
Lisa Lauren
Jay Einhorn
Justin Koh

Uncommon Ground Past Show Dates
2006-06-01 (764 days) Julie Stark
Ewa Bloch
Nancy Ethiel
Darlyne Cain
Angela Rush
Larry O. Deans FOLK YOU!
Tommi Zender