About the Artist
In, 2007 I retired from the Department of Energy as an IT specialist.
Having artists in my family exposed me to various forms of art. I never thought of myself as an artist; however, in 2010 one of my daughters-in-law asked me to create a painting to hang over her sofa. Her ethnicity is Hmong, a minority subgroup that came from the hills of Laos, located in SE Asia. I asked her to give me symbols of her culture thinking that would be easy enough. To make a long story short, she gave me images of the tapestry her culture used in which certain symbols were repeated. She wanted me to copy them.
My sister, an artist, showed me how to use a sponge with acrylic paints to make the canvas look like cloth. I painted three canvases using that technique and copied the images my daughter-in-law had given to me onto the canvases. My son and his wife loved them.
Even though, I had only copied images in those three paintings, the process and the result intrigued me and thus began my art career. I was so excited I bought enough art materials to supply a small art store. I took a few courses, watched art DVDs and YouTube videos each night until I fell asleep. I was really excited and got little sleep during this time!
As an artist, my grandmother made hats, ran her own millinery shop, created ceramics and designed and created jewelry. My mom, my sister, my brother-in-law and my nephew all produce abstract or nonrepresentational forms of art. Maybe that made me more comfortable going into a non-representational direction.
I painted a few canvases to get my feet wet. My next dozen or so were acrylic mixed-media paintings mostly from the "Evolution" series. They contained cheesecloth, foils, tissue paper and molding paste. My sister and I saw a recurring theme in this collection and we named that series “Evolution”. Most of the paintings in this series tended to be close in color; I called that era my “orange” period. It was during these creative moments that those colors generated warmth and comfort for me.
Ideas come from walks in the park, other paintings, the media, conversations, or sometimes they just pop into my head. In creating the "Evolution Series", my head was filled with thoughts of daylight, infinity, both males and females, creation, bones, eggs and growth. One painting shows the evolution of horses from the size of a small dogs to the taller horses of today. In this same painting, contrasted with "evolution", you can see a frog that "developed" from a tadpole. I thought of outer space, the collision of the planets and a black hole. Man went from bending over to standing upright. The seafloor came into view and exposed its bounty. The "Evolution Series" represents the harmonization of chaos and order, of simplicity and complexity, and of the awe-inspiring feeling of existence.
Creating is the best part of my day.
Having artists in my family exposed me to various forms of art. I never thought of myself as an artist; however, in 2010 one of my daughters-in-law asked me to create a painting to hang over her sofa. Her ethnicity is Hmong, a minority subgroup that came from the hills of Laos, located in SE Asia. I asked her to give me symbols of her culture thinking that would be easy enough. To make a long story short, she gave me images of the tapestry her culture used in which certain symbols were repeated. She wanted me to copy them.
My sister, an artist, showed me how to use a sponge with acrylic paints to make the canvas look like cloth. I painted three canvases using that technique and copied the images my daughter-in-law had given to me onto the canvases. My son and his wife loved them.
Even though, I had only copied images in those three paintings, the process and the result intrigued me and thus began my art career. I was so excited I bought enough art materials to supply a small art store. I took a few courses, watched art DVDs and YouTube videos each night until I fell asleep. I was really excited and got little sleep during this time!
As an artist, my grandmother made hats, ran her own millinery shop, created ceramics and designed and created jewelry. My mom, my sister, my brother-in-law and my nephew all produce abstract or nonrepresentational forms of art. Maybe that made me more comfortable going into a non-representational direction.
I painted a few canvases to get my feet wet. My next dozen or so were acrylic mixed-media paintings mostly from the "Evolution" series. They contained cheesecloth, foils, tissue paper and molding paste. My sister and I saw a recurring theme in this collection and we named that series “Evolution”. Most of the paintings in this series tended to be close in color; I called that era my “orange” period. It was during these creative moments that those colors generated warmth and comfort for me.
Ideas come from walks in the park, other paintings, the media, conversations, or sometimes they just pop into my head. In creating the "Evolution Series", my head was filled with thoughts of daylight, infinity, both males and females, creation, bones, eggs and growth. One painting shows the evolution of horses from the size of a small dogs to the taller horses of today. In this same painting, contrasted with "evolution", you can see a frog that "developed" from a tadpole. I thought of outer space, the collision of the planets and a black hole. Man went from bending over to standing upright. The seafloor came into view and exposed its bounty. The "Evolution Series" represents the harmonization of chaos and order, of simplicity and complexity, and of the awe-inspiring feeling of existence.
Creating is the best part of my day.
Artist Statement
I am interested in how texture, layers, and abstraction can be used to reveal and conceal hidden secrets, thoughts, and memories. The materials I use include: acrylic paint, resin, tissue paper, foils, cheesecloth, fabric, yarn, and cold wax and oil. I use various materials to create different textures and multiple layers to conceal and reveal concepts and elements in my art as I do in aspects of my life.
Exhibitions
2023 Black Artists of D.C., James E. Lewis Museum of Art at Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
2022 Common Bond, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2021 The Summer Art Show, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2019 Grass Roots, Artists & Makers Studios, Rockville, MD
2019 Facets, Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC
2018 Serendipty, Howard University Interdisciplinary Research Building, Washington, DC
2018 Diasporan, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2018 In My Mind's Eye, Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC
2017 BADC, Artists and Makers Studios, Rockville, MD
2017 Black Art by Black Artists, Martin Luther King Library, Washington, DC
2017 We Who Believe in Freedom, Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC
2017 Transitions, Carlyle Hotel, Washington, DC
2016 Aluminosity, District of Columbia Arts Center, Washington, DC
2016 Crafts on the Creek, Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Dowell, MD.
2016 Light of Our Future, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC
2016 And Still We Rise, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2016 Carnaval: Celebrations of the African Diaspora, Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC
2015 August Art, 2015, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2015 Crafts on the Creek, Private Residence, Solomons, MD
2015 The Influence of Our Elders, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2014 Fine Art Exhibit, Golden Galleries, Holiday Inn, Jessup, MD
2014 Bentonville Fine Art, Walmart Museum, Bentonville, AR
Media
Washington Post Art Critic, Mark Jenkins on "Aluminosity" at the District of Columbia Arts Center. – “The standouts are Nanno Smith’s intricate paintings, which mix foil and threads into impastoed acrylics. These pictures include circular motifs and silhouetted animal shapes that recall cave paintings. Like earlier painters who were inspired by “primitive” art, Smith imbues simple motifs with sophistication.” December 2016.
Washington Business Journal, March 3, 2017, pg 47
Collections
Carol and Clifton “Skeeter” West, Silver Spring, MD
Kay and Anthony Smith, Silver Spring, MD
Private Collection, Upper Marlboro, MD
Kia and Thomas Smith, Washington, DC
Private Collection, Washington, DC
Anika and Kenan Smith, Laurel, MD
Malcolm Carpenter, Washington, DC
Ann Evans, Silver Spring, MD
Janet and Joseph McCormick, Washington DC
Valerie Gail Reynolds, Lusby, MD
Gloria Kirk, Washington, DC
Vanessa Brown, Baltimore, MD
Timothy Ramey, Laurel, MD.
Jacqueline James DVM, Ellicott City, MD
Nancy and James Smith, Solomons, MD
Matthew and Maria Marshall, Washington, DC
Andrea G Murray, Washington, DC
Antionette Simmons Hodges, Silver Spring, MD
Arts Education
2023 The Abstracting Workshop, Julie Prichard
2023 Saturated Encaustic Monotypes, Paula Roland
2022 Find Your Joy, Louise Fletcher
2022 Find Your Voice, Louise Fletcher
2021 Encaustic mini-course, Pamela Caughey
2020 Acrylic and Mixed Media Techniques, Pamela Caughey
2019 Powerful Design and Personal Color, Pamela Caughey
2017 Printmaking, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA.
2017 Exploring Mixed Media with Color & Texture, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA.
2015 Airbrush Workshop, Plaza Art, Rockville MD
2013 Watermedia Workshop, Nicholas Simmons, Gloucester MA
2013 Photoshop 1, Montgomery College, Takoma Park, MD
2013 From Realism to Abstraction, Montgomery College, Takoma Park, MD
2013 Drawing: Experimental w/mixed media, Montgomery College, Takoma Park, MD
2010 Photoshop Workshop, Nicholas Simmons, Rockville, MD
2010 Watermedia Workshop, Nicholas Simmons, Rockville, MD
2010 Creative Acrylics, Plaza Art, Rockville, MD
2010 Acrylic Explorations, Plaza Art, Rockville, MD
2010 So You Think You Can’t Draw, Parts 1 and 2, Plaza Art, Rockville, MD
Professional Affiliations
Art and Success Pro
Black Artists of DC
Black Art in America
I am interested in how texture, layers, and abstraction can be used to reveal and conceal hidden secrets, thoughts, and memories. The materials I use include: acrylic paint, resin, tissue paper, foils, cheesecloth, fabric, yarn, and cold wax and oil. I use various materials to create different textures and multiple layers to conceal and reveal concepts and elements in my art as I do in aspects of my life.
Exhibitions
2023 Black Artists of D.C., James E. Lewis Museum of Art at Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
2022 Common Bond, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2021 The Summer Art Show, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2019 Grass Roots, Artists & Makers Studios, Rockville, MD
2019 Facets, Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC
2018 Serendipty, Howard University Interdisciplinary Research Building, Washington, DC
2018 Diasporan, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2018 In My Mind's Eye, Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC
2017 BADC, Artists and Makers Studios, Rockville, MD
2017 Black Art by Black Artists, Martin Luther King Library, Washington, DC
2017 We Who Believe in Freedom, Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC
2017 Transitions, Carlyle Hotel, Washington, DC
2016 Aluminosity, District of Columbia Arts Center, Washington, DC
2016 Crafts on the Creek, Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Dowell, MD.
2016 Light of Our Future, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC
2016 And Still We Rise, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2016 Carnaval: Celebrations of the African Diaspora, Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC
2015 August Art, 2015, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2015 Crafts on the Creek, Private Residence, Solomons, MD
2015 The Influence of Our Elders, Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, MD
2014 Fine Art Exhibit, Golden Galleries, Holiday Inn, Jessup, MD
2014 Bentonville Fine Art, Walmart Museum, Bentonville, AR
Media
Washington Post Art Critic, Mark Jenkins on "Aluminosity" at the District of Columbia Arts Center. – “The standouts are Nanno Smith’s intricate paintings, which mix foil and threads into impastoed acrylics. These pictures include circular motifs and silhouetted animal shapes that recall cave paintings. Like earlier painters who were inspired by “primitive” art, Smith imbues simple motifs with sophistication.” December 2016.
Washington Business Journal, March 3, 2017, pg 47
Collections
Carol and Clifton “Skeeter” West, Silver Spring, MD
Kay and Anthony Smith, Silver Spring, MD
Private Collection, Upper Marlboro, MD
Kia and Thomas Smith, Washington, DC
Private Collection, Washington, DC
Anika and Kenan Smith, Laurel, MD
Malcolm Carpenter, Washington, DC
Ann Evans, Silver Spring, MD
Janet and Joseph McCormick, Washington DC
Valerie Gail Reynolds, Lusby, MD
Gloria Kirk, Washington, DC
Vanessa Brown, Baltimore, MD
Timothy Ramey, Laurel, MD.
Jacqueline James DVM, Ellicott City, MD
Nancy and James Smith, Solomons, MD
Matthew and Maria Marshall, Washington, DC
Andrea G Murray, Washington, DC
Antionette Simmons Hodges, Silver Spring, MD
Arts Education
2023 The Abstracting Workshop, Julie Prichard
2023 Saturated Encaustic Monotypes, Paula Roland
2022 Find Your Joy, Louise Fletcher
2022 Find Your Voice, Louise Fletcher
2021 Encaustic mini-course, Pamela Caughey
2020 Acrylic and Mixed Media Techniques, Pamela Caughey
2019 Powerful Design and Personal Color, Pamela Caughey
2017 Printmaking, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA.
2017 Exploring Mixed Media with Color & Texture, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA.
2015 Airbrush Workshop, Plaza Art, Rockville MD
2013 Watermedia Workshop, Nicholas Simmons, Gloucester MA
2013 Photoshop 1, Montgomery College, Takoma Park, MD
2013 From Realism to Abstraction, Montgomery College, Takoma Park, MD
2013 Drawing: Experimental w/mixed media, Montgomery College, Takoma Park, MD
2010 Photoshop Workshop, Nicholas Simmons, Rockville, MD
2010 Watermedia Workshop, Nicholas Simmons, Rockville, MD
2010 Creative Acrylics, Plaza Art, Rockville, MD
2010 Acrylic Explorations, Plaza Art, Rockville, MD
2010 So You Think You Can’t Draw, Parts 1 and 2, Plaza Art, Rockville, MD
Professional Affiliations
Art and Success Pro
Black Artists of DC
Black Art in America