Nancy McDearmon:
A Painter in Mixed Media and Oils
Biography
After 22 years of teaching in public schools and 20 years as Collections and Exhibitions Manager for the Art Galleries and Museum at Sweet Briar College, Nancy McDearmon says it is finally her turn. She is ready to focus her energy and artistic vision on her own creative processes.
While teaching full time, during the active years of raising twins and concurrent years of caregiving for multiple family members, her creative drive was placed fairly low on the list of priorities. But the desire to create can only be submerged so far and for so long. Regardless of other demands, Nancy found time to continue her studies developing skills in photography, pottery and graphic design but mainly focusing on her own perceived weaknesses – color and painting techniques. She studied with pre-WWII German painter, Leni Stokes and later with regional plein air painter Ron Boehmer. She continues to participate in a critique group, meeting 6 times yearly with other artists to review their latest works.
McDearmon’s paintings range from landscapes in oils painted on location often on multiple surfaces to mixed media images on canvas. The VA Tech graduate says her role at SBC provided her biggest education - allowing her to continue interacting with students while meeting working artists, consulting with them to install their exhibits. And every day, she worked in a space surrounded by wonderful works by artists of the past. Now that it’s her turn. Nancy says, “The clock is ticking – whatever you want to do, get on with it.”
Resume
Solo Exhibitions
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2019-20 Sweet Briar College, Center of the Universe
2018 VMRC, Harrisonburg, VA, Virginia in the Round
Bridgewater College, Virginia in the Round
2015 Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA, Virginia in the Round
Farmers Bank, Dilwyn, VA, Mount Rush
Crozet Cares, Tabor Presbyterian, Crozet, VA
2014 Crozet Cares, Tabor Presbyterian, Crozet, VA
2013 Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA, Not Quite Sacred Geometry
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Curated Exhibitions
2017 Amherst Co. Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, Resurrecting Dearborn
2015 Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA, Virginia in the Round
Farmers Bank, Dilwyn, VA, Mount Rush
Crozet Cares, Tabor Presbyterian, Crozet, VA
2014 Crozet Cares, Tabor Presbyterian, Crozet, VA
2013 Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA, Not Quite Sacred Geometry
2011 Sweet Briar College Benedict Gallery, Sweet Briar, VA, Real Women Who Paint,
Five artists
2010 Town of Amherst 100th Anniversary Art Walk, curator and participating artist
2009 Sweet Briar College Babcock Gallery, Sweet Briar; VA, 100 Views of High Peak,
Part 2, curator and participating artist
2008 Sweet Briar College Babcock Gallery, Sweet Briar; VA, 100 Views of High Peak,
Part 1, curator and participating artist
2007 Amherst County Historical Museum, Amherst, VA, Resurrecting Dearborn,
curator and participating artist
2004 Sweet Briar College Benedict Gallery, Sweet Briar, Blue Table Society,
curator and participating artist
Awards
2012 Award for Painting, Lynchburg, VA, Lynchburg Art Festival, juror: Berry
2011 Award for Painting, Lynchburg, VA, Lynchburg Art Festival, juror: David Dodge Lewis
2009 Award for Painting, Lynchburg, VA, Lynchburg Art Festival,
Juror: Richard Crozier, Campbell Insurance Award
2008 Purchase Award, Centra Health Foundation, The Allen B. Pearson Regional
Cancer Center, Lynchburg, VA
2007 Award for Painting, Lynchburg, VA, Lynchburg Art Festival,
Juror: Andras J. Bality, Bank of the James Award
2005 Award for Painting, Lynchburg, VA, Lynchburg Art Festival, Juror: Megan Marlatt
2004 Award for Painting, Lynchburg, VA, Lynchburg Art Festival,
Juror Jen Shelley, NB Handy Award for Painting, Lynchburg, VA
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Special Programs and Publications
Town of Amherst 100th Anniversary, A is for the Town of Amherst, creative concept and director/editor/fund raiser
Sweet Briar College Friends of Art, Visions, Vol. IX, No. 1, Fall 2009, p. 12
Sweet Briar College Art Gallery grant program; Africa Tour for 9th grade World Geography
students, with Kimberly Morse-Jones, instructional planner and tour coordinator
Amherst County Historical Museum, Amherst, VA, Resurrecting Dearborn, curator
and participating artist
Kids in College. Sweet Briar College, Pinhole Photography, instructor, 2002 – 2011
Society for Arts in Health Care, Fairmont Crossing, Amherst, VA, Fabric Memories
Quilt Project, creative director/instructor, presented by AGAR at SAH National Conference, Buffalo, NY, 2009
Central VA Suzuki Institute, Sweet Briar College, Pinhole Photography, instructor, 2004
Sweet Briar College Art Gallery grant program, From the Ground Up: architecture study
for high school students, program director, 2002
Sweet Briar College Art Gallery grant program; About the Sky: weather study through
art and science for 2nd grade, instructional planner/tour coordinator, 1999
Girl Scouts of America, Troop 528, Amherst, VA; Wildflowers of VA Badge, author, 1996
Churches of Amherst County, 1996 – 2000, Habitat for Humanity Community Calendar,
Amherst, VA, illustrator
Girl Scouts of America, Troop 528, Amherst, VA; Archaeology Badge, author, 1994
New Horizons, Amherst County Public Schools, Amherst, VA, Pinhole Photography,
1992 – 1998, and Ceramics, 1988 – 1991, instructor
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Volunteer Work
2010 Virginia Association of Museums workshop, Museums on a Budget, Charlottesville, VA
2008 Virginia Association of Museums workshop, Maggie Walker House, Richmond, VA
1992 – 2002 VA Skyline Girl Scout Council, Troop 528; Leader
1986 – 1998 Amherst Presbyterian Church, Amherst, VA; Sunday School Teacher
1991 – 1996 Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, Forest, VA; artist in archaeology lab, Barbara Heath, director
Teaching and Other Work Experience
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Sweet Briar College Art Gallery and Museum, Sweet Briar, VA, Collections and Exhibitions Manager, 1998 – 2018
Sweet Briar College Arts Management Program, Sweet Briar, VA, student practicum site host/mentor, 2005 - 2018
Amherst County Public Schools, Amherst, VA, Gifted Visual Arts Program Coordinator and Instructor in Art (grades 4-8)
Amherst Junior High School, Amherst County Public Schools, Amherst, VA, Instructor in Art
Iaeger Intermediate School, McDowell CO, WV, Instructor in Art
Project Upward Bound, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA, Instructor in Art
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Certifications
Virginia Department of Education, Certified Art Instructor, K – 12, 1973– 1998
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Education / Private instruction
BA in Studio Art, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Graduate Studies at Institute, WV; art for special education
Oil painting in the manner of the Old Masters, Helen Stokes, instructor
Photography, Sweet Briar College, Nancy Renner, instructor
Ceramics, Sweet Briar College, Joe Monk, instructor
Digital Design, Sweet Briar College, Nancy Marion, instructor
Plein Aire painting, Lynchburg, VA, Ron Boehmer, instructor