My journey in art began like so many others, in childhood, drawing and colouring whatever looked amazing. ln my case, it was animals and dinosaurs. When I got older, I moved to the Windsor-Essex County area.

I wanted to pursue my love of art so I took a class from local artist Harold Burton. I learned so much from him. I felt I was making good progress when he simply looked at my work and told me to carry on with what I was doing. I did my first exhibition in his student show. 

Since, I have taken many other workshops and courses, acquired many artist manuals, and expanded my expertise in many mediums. I now work in acrylic, oils, charcoal, coloured pencils, pen and ink, marker, watercolour, mixed media, airbrushing and pastels. 

An avid photographer and naturalist, l am inspired by the nature that surrounds me in the area where I live, and also from my travels to different areas.

My last trip in February, 2020 to Australia spawned a creative period in me, painting the flora and fauna there. Sometimes it wasn’t very hard to find them. Cockatoos, Kookaburras and Lorikeets came right to our patio, almost posing! 

I have discovered plein air painting and have joined the Windsor & Essex Plein Air Artists group. lt combines my love of painting and the outdoors wonderfully. I competed in the Great Migration Paint Out in Kingsville last year.

I am in an upcoming show at the Gibson Gallery in Amherstburg “Exterior Worlds: Landscapes and Urban Environments of Essex County” July 11 to August 7, 2022. 

A member of the Arts Society of Kingsville since 2018, l have been in many of their events and shows. The energy and inspiration in this group is amazing. I am also enrolled in an Alcohol lnk Class at the Carnegie Arts and Visitor Centre, and I am excited to learn something new.

The Leamington Arts Centre had a ‘Tree of Life” Mural Mosaic project where each contributor paints a tile that will be assembled with 271 others to form a beautiful mosaic to be mounted on the Leamington Arts Centre building. Due June 3, my contribution was a Blue Jay.

I am also a member of the Leamington Arts Centre and the Art Gallery of Windsor as well as many online art groups.

The Mural Mosaic Global Roots project is something that I am involved in presently. lt is similar to the Leamington project but it is worldwide. I plan on completing 4 tiles in contribution to this project, due Sept. 30, 2022.

Currently, for the months of May and June, I have 24 of my art pieces at the Leamington branch of the Essex County Library.

Twelve are plein air work and twelve are studio work. lncluded are some of my Australia work and pet portraits that l’ve done on commission. lt is a wonderful venue for artists to display their work, and I am very impressed with the display.

Contact name is Angie Graham, Community Supervisor, phone 226- 946-1529, extension 220.

Other branches also have this option for displaying artwork, and it is a wonderful way to get exposure for artwork. They also post a slideshow of the work on Facebook.

My next artistic goal is to paint a series of bird portraits. I enjoy capturing their vibrant personality, patterns and colours. The inspiration in the spring migration is boundless. Using my own photos, I capture their amazing energy in whatever medium I choose. After that, l will have to see where inspiration guides me.

Please see me on my Facebook page Artwork by Nancy Platsko or you can contact me by phone at 519-326-2270 or emaiI nanplat@wavedirect.net

All images provided by Nancy Platsko