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mundane,” says Nancy. “Simple things I see, and hoping others enjoy them as well.” Inspired by artists like Tom Thomson and Robert Glenn who use bold brushstrokes, simplified shapes and striking colors, Nancy's work celebrates the beauty of the natural world, inviting viewers to appreciate its common- place and find joy in its simplicity. Nancy’s artwork was an avenue for her to connect to the local area, having moved to the Thumb in 2020, “When we first moved to this area, I didn’t know anybody that wanted to go out painting, so I forced myself to go and I had a wonderful time; now I don’t think anything about it. My first winter paint out here was at Port Crescent State Park. That snowy day comes right back to me every time I see that little painting.” Our very first artist to be featured on the Art Wall was Drew Deming, whose wife, Christina is a registered nurse in our Infusion Therapy department. Inspired by the beauty of Michigan, Drew Deming found his passion for painting as an extension of his childhood love for drawing and coloring. “It seems that painting is one of the more accessible artistic mediums. It’s a natural extension of drawing and coloring from when we were kids,” stated Drew. “My interest in painting started in high school and I owe a lot of credit to my art teacher, Sean Gallagher at Unionville Sebewaing Area High School. He gave me plenty of freedom to explore all types of mediums and encouraged my interest in watercolor when that was the one I enjoyed best.” Influenced by artists like Bill Watterson, the author and illustrator of Calvin and Hobbes, as well as Charles Schulz, the author and illustrator of Peanuts’ Charlie Brown and Snoopy, Drew aims to capture the essence of life and emotion using simple lines and vivid colors. Drew explains, “They both (Watterson and Schulz) do so much with so little. They use simple lines and squiggles that express so much emotion and life in their work. I aspire to do the same. A good example is Woodstock from Charlie Brown. If you really look at him, he’s really only a couple of marks with a pen and yet conveys so much expressiveness and life.”
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Nancy Knapp works in her home studio with her vibrant pasels and recent works Christina & Drew Deming hold up their children’s book, “Scurry And Scoot” Kris Leipprandt stands with her recent mural on the wall of Caseville Hardware
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