Lost In The Weeds Spotlight

Here we feature two artists from our Feb-Mar 2025 exhibit, Lost in the Weeds.

 

Nancy Russell

Nancy Mona Russell  CLOUDED VIEW  acrylic on canvas

What is the most important artist tool that you use in your practice?

My paintings usually start with a charcoal drawing on the blank canvas. Sometimes I end up pretty close to where I start but often it is just an exploration of color, shapes, and pigment on the canvas. I didn’t start painting until college when I enrolled in introductory painting and drawing. Four years later, I ended up with a major in studio art.  In those (ancient) days, acrylic paint was just being introduced, and using it was not very satisfying compared to working with oil. I have really appreciated all the advances in acrylic with various viscosity, mediums, etc. and now use it almost exclusively. 

I love having a studio at Sanchez Art Center, which I share with Sheila Finch. The community of studio artists is great and through my long involvement with the West Gallery Committee, have had an opportunity to meet so many Art Guild of Pacifica members at receiving and receptions. I find our West Gallery shows very inspiring. 
 

How does your artwork relate to the theme of the show?

My painting in “Lost in the Weeds” is probably more about being lost in the clouds. I was inspired by the experience of a flight when the plane comes down through the clouds and you only can see part of the landscape in bits and pieces. 

Kelly Hughes

Kelly K. Hughes  SYNERGY  watercolor

How does your artwork relate to the theme of the show?

My artwork is a fairly literal interpretation of the theme: it’s a botanically-inspired abstract piece where I masked real leaves and flowers to show through behind watercolor spray and splatter. It has an organic feel that resembles something peeking through the weeds.

What is a little known fact about yourself ?

I speak Swedish: my mother is a Swedish national and emigrated to the United States before I was born. I have immense gratitude that she taught me her native language as I grew up, as I have a much richer appreciation for the culture. I have visited Sweden many times to see family and lived there in college as an exchange student.  Experiencing the country’s beautiful landscapes has been a big influence on my art.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share?

Lately I have been creating abstract art in watercolor, similar to the piece in the current show. I love using watercolor because such unexpected magic can happen… check out my original watercolor greeting cards in the Sanchez Art Center shop!