Nancy & Carl Tankersley

Nancy and Carl Tankersley were the driving force to bring plein air to Easton. Knowing that the town was looking for a new summer event and having recently purchased South Street Gallery, they approached Al Bond of the Avalon with a written proposal and planted the seeds for Plein Air Easton.  After experiencing a top plein air event in California and discussions with those involved in the plein air genre they knew this would be the event to put Easton on the map in the arts community.  Always a strong advocate for plein air painting and with a history as community organizers they knew they could make it happen. 

Their tireless efforts around organizing and promoting the event and their many connections to plein air artists helped attract participants, jurors, and judges during the early years and laid the foundation for the successful Plein Air Easton we have today.  Nancy insured this success by serving on the executive committee for three years and then a juried artist.  Her continued participation in the event over the years has helped the event attract artists of the highest caliber both domestically and internationally, assuring Plein Air Easton maintain its reputation as one the best plein air painting events.

“There are so many but one that I remember was painting with other artists in General Tanuki’s restaurant one evening. Another was sitting on the Tidewater front porch listening to an artist from New Mexico play the guitar. It was less demanding in the very early years, and we had the energy and time for impromptu gatherings”.