About the Artist: Nancy Patrick Carney

July 2024 Issue
About the Cover Artist — Nancy Patrick Carney
by Lindsay Gifford

“Creating joy…apply as needed” is the mantra for Bluffton artist Nancy Patrick Carney’s imaginative artworks. Her original, mixed-media paintings invite us to dive in and enjoy the people, places, and animals of the S.C. Lowcountry in a fun and fanciful light.

After graduating with a degree in art from Miami University (Ohio), Nancy began working as a commercial artist, package designer, product and book illustrator, and art teacher to both children and adults. Throughout her career, she and her husband lived and raised their family in six different states. After retirement, Nancy and her husband found Sun City while traveling. Little did she know, she’d be shoveling sunshine instead of snow within the year; they moved to Bluffton in 2016.

As a fine art painter, her work has evolved to the whimsical style she is known for today. A love of art history, knowledge of the elements and principles of design and composition, and the use of expressive color, guide her creative process. When Nancy lived in a city, her artwork often encapsulated the urban environment, cityscapes, and the colorful people who lived within it. She loved to capture the ethnicities and cultures and often made sketches of people throughout the city, bringing them together into one painted scene, like a bus stop or farmer’s market.

Since her move to the picturesque Lowcountry, Nancy’s acrylic and collage paintings have developed a casual, playful quality that reflects the “Bluffton State of Mind.” Puffy little beach birds, joyful mermaids, colorful turtles, and ladies dancing on the beach are some of her common themes. Two of her signature items are her dancing women and puffy birds’ series. “I was doing a ‘30 paintings in 30 days’ workshop and was behind. So, I decided to do these simple renditions of iconic beach birds. I used a technique where I place paper on the canvas and then paint over it. I thought nothing would come of it.” Well, fate laughed, and she sold the painting within 24 hours! They are still one of her biggest sellers, and she’s going to keep them coming.

Nancy has always loved painting people enjoying the beach. “I try to capture the joy I feel at the beach. The ‘yay, I made it. I’m here. I braved the traffic on the bridge’ feeling!’” she laughed. She and her husband try to go to the beach at least once a week to enjoy all it has to offer throughout the seasons.

The artwork featured this month’s cover, “Lifeguards” is inspired by two different photos Nancy took at Coligny Beach last summer. She proudly said she never paints directly from a picture but uses it to inspire the composition. What attracted her about the picture, you ask? The lifeguard tower scaffolding! She loved the lines and bright red hue all culminating with a pony-tailed lifeguard sitting under her umbrella at the focal point. We’re excited we came upon her recent rendition just in time to celebrate our July issue honoring Independence Day and all those who protect and serve.

The cover art “Lifeguards”, along with a plethora of Nancy’s original artworks and prints can be found at Pluff Mudd Gallery (11:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.in Bluffton).
You can also find her art at the Art League of Hilton Head (HHI) and All About Art Club (Sun City). Her cards, prints and other products are available through Fine Art America (www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/5-nancy-carney). Nancy does take commissions and can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Facebook @NancyPatrickCarney.