Nancy Tankersley

As a leader and catalyst in the modern plein air movement, Plein Air Easton owes much of its influence to the intense competition among top painters in Easton. Nancy, an Easton native and founder of the event, brings a rich artistic background. Her career began as a portraitist, but she later ventured into figurative paintings depicting people at work and leisure. Her artistic exploration extends across landscapes, figures, and still life, always infused with an impressionistic touch.

In her pursuit of the unpredictable, Nancy incorporates non-traditional tools, supports, and technologies into her paintings. Her commitment to this style remains unwavering. Beyond Plein Air Easton, she travels globally, participating in competitions, judging, and teaching. Notably, she was invited to instruct and demonstrate at the Plein Air Convention in Santa Fe from 2018 to 2020. Additionally, her work graced the prestigious Masters Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club in NYC in 2016 and 2017.

Nancy’s accolades include the Best of Show at the Parrsboro, Nova Scotia International Plein Air (2018), the Lighthouse Plein Air Festival (2017), and the Dickinson Award for Best Painting by a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society (2016 Annual Juried Exhibit). She was also the featured artist at the 49th Waterfowl Festival in 2019.

As a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, the American Society for Marine Art, and the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters, Nancy’s impact reverberates far beyond Easton. Her memberships in the Washington Society for Landscape Painters and the Salmagundi Club further attest to her prominence. Additionally, she directs the Easton Studio—an artist’s workshop facility established in 2010—where she mentors, teaches workshops, and sponsors nationally known painters.