Nancy Monsman

Artist bio:

Nancy Monsman studied painting at the University of Arizona, where her major professor was the Southwest colorist Bruce McGrew. She has exhibited at Aix-en-Provence, France, and in numerous galleries throughout Arizona. Monsman writes about her work: “My oil landscapes are based on nature, but I do not attempt to duplicate reality. Rather, I strive for the abstraction of an imperfectly remembered scene. I favor heightened colors that appear imbedded in the canvas and create an inward glow. Light is for me the most important element in a landscape. The direct light shapes the image and the ambient light contributes the nuance.

“I always have an idea of my subject, but the painting evolves in its own direction as I work. Since I like the mess and uncertainty of paint, I avoid the available technology that both dazzles and saves time. All the countless brushstrokes are my own. I keep a painting near my easel for a month or so and continuously fine tune.

“Van Gogh wrote that ‘a painting should be constructed to endure.’ I use archival materials—the highest quality canvas and linen, Windsor and Newton oil paints—to create works of extreme permanence. They will continue to appear fresh after a hundred years.”