Joyce Nicol

Having grown up in western New York State, I learned about the Hudson Valley through my studies in art history and was interested in the 19th century Hudson River School of Artists. When I first came to live in this region, it was like living in those paintings. I immediately responded to the grandeur of the mountains and river, and the charm of the small towns. I work in predominately in pastels and specialize in landscape and still life. My paintings are expressions of my love of nature, interest in detail, and enjoyment of color. The use of pastels gives me a very direct, tactile connection between what I see and what I want to express.

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in art education from the State University College at Buffalo and a Master of Arts in art history from the George Washington University. I have taught art in public schools and to private students in New York State and in Massachusetts. For years I was a potter. Seeking a new direction years ago, I began pastel work with Angela Gaffney-Smith. I have enjoyed participating in workshops led by Christina Debarry, Staats Fasold and Elizabeth Mowry through the Woodstock School of Art. For more than a decade I have been an active member of the Woodstock Artist Association and Museum. My paintings have been exhibited at WAAM and the Woodstock School of Art as well as in Rhinebeck. Many have been sold to private individuals.