City of DuQuoin "Art on Main" Exploring Art in Southern Illinois

 I was very pleased to be a small part of this wonderful first time Art Walk in the historic downtown of DuQuoin Illinois. I want to give a special thank you to the DuQuoin Art Committee, the city of DuQuoin, and especially the Kabinet House for graciously allowing my art to be installed in their lovely show room and window.
The streets were closed and many art lovers and artists were strolling up and down Main street enjoying the art works of  local students and emerging artists from the region.  150 local Southern Illinois artists submitted work as well as 600 or more student works, that's a lot of eye candy!
Thirty-six businesses along Main Street generously allowed art to be displayed inside and in their windows for everyone to enjoy. It was a bit cold and breezy but many folks showed up to support the artists , it was a terrific first art walk kick-off!

A live performance by Cudgetown Road band in Ye Olde County Store and Ice Cream Shoppe added so much fun to the whole cultural experience:)
The art will be on display through April 28th at 12 noon so be sure to go see what the artist have available, many works are for sale.Contact info is posted with each piece.
I took as many photos as I could, the glare ruined a few but I think I have enough to peek your interest, there is so much great art to see you don't want to miss this opportunity.

One of the High School artists doing face painting on the street

4th grade art

Acrylic by Artist Chad Hardcastle

My Husband Steve admiring this oil on board  of the St.Louis Arch By artist Kelcie Platz

Toilet paper roll art by Artist Logan Borowiak

Photography by Artist Yvonne Spencer

Acrylic by artist Andrea Collins

Artist Candace Manning Specialist in drawing and painting

Fine Art by Candace Manning

Acrylic by artist Wesley Spencer

Oil by artist Darlene Liszewski

Artist Logan Borowiak

Acrylic by artist Nancy Pace from the private collection of Brenda Jones of Paducah Ky.

Watercolor by artist Paula Homann

Thanks for visiting my blog I appreciate your interest! Feel free to share and or leave me a comment, I love to hear from you all:)
Artist Nancy Pace 
NancysWildWireArt shop 

"Eagle Rising" A Story of Design

This is a story I dreamed and I wrote it out as I designed this piece, I hope you enjoy my tale.

This piece had an accident, it happened at a show and I missed it until I got home to rearrange my containers. I was sad, I loved this piece. I am not sure if I will be moved to pick it up again to rework it........ I do have a photograph and my story and I have an opportunity to share with you, so I rejoice!

Eagle Rising

 Long ago The People had a good life. The land was rich and food abundant, they lived in peace with all creatures.

Then a tribe of white settlers moved to the land of The People,the white people were greedy and wasteful. Soon everyone was hungry and freezing because all the abundance was used up.
The white settlers decided The People were the problem so they began to war against them, The people had only spears and clubs against guns and cannons, it seemed The People would all be destroyed! They planned to kill the warriors and old men, and sell the squaws and children for slaves.

But the great White Eagle saw the plight of The people and was saddened.He spread his mighty wings and swooped in to gather all The People from the flames of the burning and looted village,then he flew to the top of a far mountain and set The People free in a land of peace and abundance.

The feather focal represents the White Eagle

Antique Mother of pearl carved pieces -war clubs

Lapis stone arrowhead-war weapon

Sterling beads and copper-The treasure of a pure heart

Trade beads-enslavement

White leather cords-Bonds that can't be broken

Artist/Author Nancy Pace

I would love to know if you enjoyed my story, I have a few I would like to share from other designs I have sold, they are with new owners, but I have a photograph and my story to share:)

Thanks!

Where Do Artists Find Inspiration?

Where does an artist find inspiration,or does it find you? I guess that fits in the same category as which came first the chicken or the egg? It is all a matter of an individuals perspective. Is your glass half empty or half full?

My glass is usually full and overflowing. I get my designs from my dreams while I am sleeping, even daydreaming can yield some cool art. This  is a sleeping dream design, I am like the Madhatter when I run to grab paper and pen. I have a real compulsion to sketch my thoughts before they are lost in everyday things. I later develop them in wire and stone, metal, or even canvas. The nice part is I may get 3-4 sketches from each dream so I end up with more than one piece of art! This link will lead you back to my Handmade Artists Shop where this piece is now available to add to your collection.Wild Tree of Life Cross Tree

Hey! Would you like to see a daydream piece?

I was tidying up in my  studio, and I happened to pick up ,this salvaged Fleur De li. It would not let go of my hand, lol, next thing you know, I am cutting, filing and making a back plate to mount that pretty piece of brass that nearly found it's way to the scrap box for recycling!
Absent-minded daydreams can reap unexpected inspiration. Next time your mind starts to wonder, just go ahead and let it. No telling what might wait at the end of the your rainbow:)
This link will take you to my Shop if you are interested in adding this piece to your collection:) Fleur De Li Pendant
Thank you so much for reading my ramblings, I hope I have entertained or better yet inspired you to step off the beaten path a while and dream.......
Nancy 

Folk Art Belt Buckle for my Guy Steve:)

Hello! I have not had a free standing blog in a while and I find I am missing it, so here I am again!
I had a brainstorm about a Valentines day gift for my sweetie. And as usual just decided I could do it, never mind I had never done this before or I had no clue how to do it . Things like that never stop me, when you are fearless, and clueless,you don't stop to think about what a huge task you are taking on,you just go for it!

I wanted to make Steve a belt buckle, he is not the kind of guy who wears jewelry, he is a hunter and fisherman though, so the Camouflage Jasper stone I had was perfect. It was large enough for a buckle so I plowed ahead in my own make-do style.What do you think about my first effort? Steve was really surprised and pleased, just what I was going for:)
I thought you might like to see both front and back views. I had a lot of fun figuring out the mechanics and fabricating this piece. I cut, hammered, ground down edges, filed, soldered and added patina to achieve my goal, and I am pleased with my art:) It is not perfect it's Folk Art!
I will finish adding things like links to my blog over the next couple of days, but for now I am going to go with publish it as is.
Thanks!  Please remember to follow me?
Nancy Pace