I was born in 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts.
As a child, I was a daydreamer and a maker of things. Butterfly nets were fashioned out of wire hangers and old nylon stockings. Barbie's wardrobe was made of leftover cloth scraps. Maps were drawn for geography class.
By the age of 8, I had won regional art awards.
When I was 7 years old, there was a Saturday morning TV show called "The Nature World of Captain Bob." Every week, the artist Robert Cottle mesmerized me by drawing an animal. For Christmas, I asked for and received the "Captain Bob's Art Set." The included oil paints began my lifelong love affair with the medium.
As an adult, I made my living as a graphic artist, doing advertising design and illustration. While I enjoyed this work, my real passion continued to be painting. Often, I would be at the easel at 5 am to get in a few hours of quiet creative time before going to the 9 to 5 job.
I have no formal training in oil painting. My education came from visiting every museum I could around the United States, often setting off alarms when I leaned in too close to a painting to see the brush strokes. And, I read every art book I could borrow from the library or could afford from the second hand book store. My favorite artists were Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O'Keefe, Henri Matisse and David Hockney. I painted continuously, trying out different styles like impressionism and hard edged representationalism.
In 2001, I married Al Walker. The following year, we moved from Spokane, WA to Florida.
With Al's loving devotion and support, I was then given the precious gift of time. Time to sit for hours and look. Time to notice the movement and colors of the shadows crossing the floor of the lanai. Time to see, really see, the designs of light in glass. I began to paint the objects around me in a new, realistic style. I call these paintings "Moments." To date, there are over 1000 paintings in this series.
In 2018, Al and I returned to Spokane. Seeking new inspiration in 2022, I turned my attention to the colorful and quirky aspects of my collection of vintage toys. These realistic works make up the "Toybox" series.
My work is dedicated to Al, the angel in my life.
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Danforth's paintings have been published and gallery represented.
Her work is in collections in 29 countries, including Dubia, the Czech Republic, South Korea, and the Cayman Islands.
The most Danforth pieces owned by one individual is 27.
Favorite publications:
National American Review
Fall, 2023 Issue
"Assorted Chocolates," 30x30x.75, oil on canvas.
The Wire Harp
Cover, 1996 Issue
"Salmon Leaves," 28x20x.75, oil on canvas.
The Wire Harp
1995 Issue
"Grampy's Sneakers," poem.
Favorite invitational:
i.d.e.a. Museum, "Artful Play! Games and Toys"
Mesa, Arizona. June 14 - Sept. 19, 2018
"Retro Red Tricycle," 20x20x.75, oil on canvas.
Selected collectors:
June Anderson (international opera soprano)
Remak Ramsay (veteran actor of stage, film and television)
Ronnie Gill (assistant news editor, Newsday)
Elizabeth Edwards (wife of John Edwards, former North Carolina Senator)
Lee Forman (co-founder, The Museum of Bags)
Holy Family Hospital, Spokane, WA
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email: NanceDanforth@moments.red phone:
