Nanci's Creative Castings- Toledo, Ohio

Greetings! Here is a little about me....

I have been surrounded by art since birth, my father being a very talented oil painter, and I watched and learned from him and joined him in frequent trips to the Toledo Museum of Art.(See my Private gallery "Dad'sGallery"). However, although I did inherit his creativity, I moved to areas other than oil painting.

I have not had any formal training (unless you can count Art class in high school and perusing the internet!). I am totally self taught.

I have always had the desire to create unusual and beautiful things, and have been creating handmade jewelry and beadwork for years (also self taught). The leaf casting was something I was always going to do "someday", since my primary love is gardening and nature (I attended the first Master Gardener class ever offered in my area),and I felt this could incorporate both that and my creative interests.

I started with raw cement castings, but my husband kept hinting (insisting!)that I paint them. I finally tried a few, and realised I had an unrealised talent!In doing so,I believe I have crossed over that sometimes fine line between "crafts" and "art".

So far I have some of my pieces at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge's Visitor Center in Oak Harbor, Ohio, and at Curb's Candle Co. at Cricket West in Toledo, Ohio. One of my red cabbage leaves also resides in St. Luke's Hospital, Maumee,Ohio. It is in their Family Birthing Center with a baby (doll) sitting in it!:)

I "collect" information on places around the country where some of my pieces now call home. Boston, New Jersey, Florida and Arizona are a few so far....

I'm inspired by all the subtle shapes and colors found in nature, and since I never like to duplicate one of my pieces, this works perfectly for me, since no two leaves are ever exactly alike!

Thank you for your interest in my work!

"To The Artist There Is Never Anything Ugly In Nature" ~Auguste Rodin

Artist Highlights

• ArtWanted.com Gallery:    Art/Drawing Misc.
• Past Clients:    Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge -Oak Harbor, Oh. Curbs Candle Co., Toledo, Oh.