Nancy R. Bradley

Nancy R. Bradley was born in Chicago, attending the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools for most of her school days. For a year she attended the National Cathedral School in Washington, D. C. followed by Colorado College and a B.A. degree from the University of Colorado.

Art has been a part of her life from early on. She has been wielding a paintbrush since she was a small child. By school age, under the tutelage of an enthusiastic art teacher, she was exhibiting her work along the hallowed halls of her school.

Not until early marriage did she return to painting when she decided that bare walls in her home needed attention. After first painting the walls for a neutral background, she turned to canvas and oils and succeeded in filling some of the spaces with Colorado landscapes. Following a move to Midland, Michigan, she returned to water as a basic medium, studying with Frank Staples, a renowned watercolorist from Maine. She has exhibited her work in the Saginaw Art Museum and, for several years, at the local annual art fair. A move to California resulted in a time-out when she needed to focus her creative energies on her small child.

Four years later, the family moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where Nancy became the art editor of a small local monthly magazine. For this she submitted ink drawings depicting life in Switzerland from her American perspective. Since this experience, ink drawings have been one of her favorite media which she happily combines with watercolor when the mood hits and the subject is appropriate.

Another move, then to Hong Kong, found Nancy struggling with heat and humidity and paper that refused to dry. Only by stages were paintings completed. Back again in Michigan, she dabbled in pastels until a final move to Washington State in 1989. Here her passion for watercolors was reignited. She studied with Jess Cauthorn for a number of years, once more submitting works to shows from time to time. She also participated in a workshop with Frank Webb in Paris and Provence.

Nancy continues to travel the world when possible. When on the move she uses her camera to document her adventures, which reflect her abiding interest in the world and its peoples. Her photographs have been shown several times at Omega Photo in Bellevue. They provide many ideas for her paintings and continue to serve as a useful tool in her art. At home, life in the Pacific Northwest with its many moods and aspects remains a constant inspiration.

Nancy is currently a member of the Northwest Watercolor Society and the Eastside Association of Fine Art.