Interview with Nancy Anne Woolf-Pettyjohn — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Nancy Anne Woolf-Pettyjohn from the Kansas City, Missouri metro is an artist who hand paints in the style of fine arts. Her artwork covers all genres. Nancy started out wanting to be a surgical nurse but she fell seriously ill so had to drop out. God had other plans for her life. While recuperating she owned an antique shop did appraising, lecturing and repaired and restored old laces and linens. After doing it for years she decided to pursue the legal field. Becoming a paralegal/legal assistant working for lawyers and free-lancing she found herself not personally challenged as law was much too easy. Having over 900 clock hours the public school system allowed her to teach without a teaching degree. She taught k-12, taught as a paraprofessional and also taught adults needing to have their GED. She loved teaching but Pres. Bush put in effect you had to be certified in what you taught and have a teaching degree. She also ran for mayor and councilman. This was what led her finally to art.
Having watched her Mom ( who is also an artist) all her life she was self challenged to see if she too could do art. Her Mom once told her, " can you see it? Well then if you can see it you can paint it!". Nancy although being self taught she does possess a natural God given talent. She always had a love for laces and quality workmanship so she adds to that her love of history and research. It seems like a winning combination when she started her business Fine Art with the Masters Touch in 2009.
Marquis has awarded her the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. This was where she finds herself challenged the most.

Nancy is the daughter of Lucy and the late Homer Woolf and is married to Matthew.

Can you tell us about the moment you decided to pursue a career as an artist?

For me, it was not a moment it has been a life long process. I had wanted to become a surgical missionary nurse initially. While in nursing school in the sterile o.r. I came down with three fatal diseases and a fourth while being a patient while dying. Five Dr's. gave me no hope to survive. God alone healed me but He had also closed the door to nursing. I am very complex with many interests. I owned an antique shop with a clothing museum. I lectured, restored and repaired old laces and linens, refinished furniture, had a finders service and appraised for individuals as well as for Probate. The shop was written up in Canada and tour books in U.S.A. and Europe as a "must see". Went on to become a Paralegal/Legal Assistant. After studying all

10 fields of law, working for lawyers and freelancing lawyers told me they were intimidated by me as I had 900 plus clock hours which was more than a n they themselves had. My law school pres. wrote me to say few people make my kind of grades. Law came much too easy and did not present enough of a challenge for me. With all my clock hours I was able to teach inthe public school system from pre-school to age 21 still needing to get their g.e.d. sometimes teaching as a paraprofessional helping the handicapped. Loved it but then Pres. Bush put in a law that all teachers have their teaching degree and have certification in whatever they teach. The door closed again. I pursued art as I had watched my Mom who is also an artist all my life. Both of my parents were creative and also inventors.

This is where I find I am the most challenged and the most happiest.

What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?

I guess a well-rounded artist as God has blessed me being able to paint anything. If you like my efforts I ask that you take time to thank God from whom my talent comes from.

What do you want your art to convey to those who see it? What is the meaning or creative motivation behind your work?

I want my art to convey accuracy, attention to detail along with good quality workmanship.

My motivation is for the public to appreciate art and to share the facts behind the paintings that I have researched.

Can you tell us about the process you use to create your works? What is your typical workday routine?

My day is not "typical" compared to most artists. It consists of research of my subject matter, sometimes writing for copyright permission, being inspired and wanting to create to the best of my ability. My hopes is that my art shall be passed down in their families.

Where do you find inspiration? What motivates you to create?

Finding inspiration comes from many sources...my Mom, nature, research just to name a few. My motivation comes from God.

What has been your most outstanding achievement to date?

Although having been recognized as one of the best 60 artists in the world and invited to their award show and now one of 100 to me my greatest achievement was through Marquis Publishing. I have been included for years into their Who's Who in America, American Art, and in the World. I was awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Their volumes go to libraries, universities, corporations and banks as well as museums. One has to be nominated and then their editorial team decides if you are notable or not. The World volume has me listed with heads of state among others. You can not be included just because you want in...so it is a very high honor.

Marquis Who's Who in the World represents the top 3% of worldwide professionals.

To curators I am the only known artist to hand paint copies of actual textiles found in world museums with prior copyright permission.

To have an original idea out of billions of people worldwide is hard to grasp.