Nancy E.F. Halbert
City Dwellers, 2020
Soft Pastel
28 x 22"

About the artwork

I love the spontaneity and freedom soft pastels allow. I use them to depict a figure, scene, or mood. I often work with live models and I just love the way the color reflects off the skin from a light source, or the quick gesture poses that are done as warm ups. City Dwellers is a result of those quick poses, letting my hand dance across the paper. I was once a choreographer and dancer and even though it has been several years since I entered a dance class, the pro-action of the body will live on in me no matter my age or place in life.

Bio

Nancy E. F. Halbert is a painter and teacher and was once a dancer, choreographer and arts administrator. She learned to draw and paint from premier art teachers all over the country. She started showing her abstract expressionistic artwork in exhibitions and galleries in 2009. Nancy moved to West Mt. Airy six years ago with her husband and popular dog, Bo. She works out of her home studio and is available for semi and private lessons, commissions and lectures. She primarily works in soft pastels, oil and mixed media. Nancy's work has been shown in Philadelphia galleries, museums, hospitals She is a member of inliquid.org, and Cerulean Arts Gallery and is a member of the Philadelphia Pastel and PA Watercolor Societies. Nancy has won painting awards at The Philadelphia Sketch Club and her work is in collections in Australia and the USA.

"My art style reflects movement, line and gesture, as I continue dancing in my art practice. I develop a painting as I would when choreographing, one element moving into the next. A line begins, takes shape into mass, which will deepen with color, and then culminates into an expressionistic, impressionistic experience. I merge abstraction with reality leading me to paint motion to evoke emotion."

Her newest paintings in oil and pastel will be on view at Cerulean Arts Gallery, February 14 through March 10. A reception will be held Saturday, May 17th 2-5 pm at 1355 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123.

nancyhalbertart.com