Interview by Katie Aiken Ritter
“That canvas is a moment in time. It’s all—all—about the feeling of that day.”
Want to be an artist, but feeling a bit intimidated? Don’t be! Nancy Fine offers proof positive that being an artist—and a successful one—isn’t about having artistic parents or an MFA degree.
Nancy retired from a 40-year career in real estate eight years ago and pursued painting. She recalls her initial ignorance: “I knew nothing. I thought all artists painted in their studio. I didn’t know what plein air even meant!”
After training at Zoll Studios, Nancy worked in super realism but experienced a breakthrough moment: “I looked at my painting subjects and thought, I could just take a photograph and it would look like that. It had no meaning to me.”
She transitioned to plein air painting outdoors but faced practical challenges when the wind blew her—and her easel—over.
Nancy now works exclusively with palette knives. She practices alla prima painting, explaining the philosophy: “That canvas is a moment in time. It’s all—all—about the feeling of that day.”
She emphasizes the emotional connection in her work: “It’s so heartfelt, so full of love and happiness. What it means to the person hanging it in their home is up to them…but it’s a gift from my heart.”
Her dog Luna, a rescue from Reach Out Rescue Resources, accompanies her painting sessions.
Nancy Fine resides in Northern Baltimore County, Maryland, which inspires her plein air paintings. Her medium is oils on linen boards. She competes in juried and non-juried events with tight timeframes, sometimes having only 2-3 hours to choose a subject, complete the painting, and have it framed for the competition.
Her artistic evolution reflects a transition from the detail of realism. Plein Air has provided the perfect vehicle for expressing her love of the outdoors. She employs lush colors, and the freedom of brushwork and her palette knife.
Nancy benefits from proximity to the Pretty Boy Watershed: 24,000 acre Pretty Boy Watershed in her backyard, a perfect spot to disappear for hours—just an artist, her easel, backpack, and her dog, Luna.
She finds inspiration in varied landscapes: beaver ponds, winter trees, and rushing springs.
Education & Training: Bachelor of Arts Degree from Notre Dame College. Classes from Zoll Studio in Baltimore. Workshops at The Torpedo Factory and Yellow Barn in Virginia.
