Becoming a Wildlife Artist

     About the Artist: Nancy Walters was born and raised in San Jose California and is of Mixed European, Hispanic and Native California Indian ancestry. She is a descendant of the founding families of Pueblo San Jose California. When she was very young she had pneumonia and was very sick and thought to be dying. She remembers looking at curtains on her mother’s windows and seeing a host of animals moving about. One by one the lion, tiger, elephant, birds, snakes, giraffes, foxes, rabbits and all sorts of other animals, came into focus and one by one they told her they would look after her, that she would be all right and that they would follow her for the rest of her days and protect her. Nancy rapidly recovered. Some say it was a fever induced hallucination, some say it was her first vision and first knowledge of her animal guardians. In any case it was the beginning of her life long love of animals which she began drawing in childhood.

     Nancy attended Abraham Lincoln High School in San Jose and was the first member of her family to go on to college. She attended San Jose State University. She initially was an art and drama major but found it would be difficult to make a living so she pursued her other passion of psychology. Nancy achieved a BA in Psychology and a Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology. She established a successful career in Psychology but never stopped developing her art. She continually worked on her techniques. At one point in life Nancy started having severe problems with Arthritis. It became difficult to draw, to use her hands to do things, and even to walk. She had to have a basal thumb joint replacement and two total hip replacements. It was a painful and difficult time that caused Nancy to rethink her priorities in life. During her recovery from surgeries Nancy spent time at the San Francisco Zoo. There she could walk around and yet rest, as frequently as she needed, in the company of animals she had loved since childhood. She never forgot the healing experience of her early childhood and continued to believe in the healing powers of her animal companions. As a child she had been taught to respect animals as teachers of life and as spiritual guides. She felt this spiritual comfort at the zoo during her recovery time and was inspired to paint these wonderful subjects and to develop herself as an artist and wildlife painter. After 30 years in the profession of psychology, with 25 years of that time as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Nancy closed her private practice to pursue full time her interest in oil painting.

   Nancy’s journey over the past several years has been an exciting, challenging, and incredibly enriching experience. She has visited many zoos and animal preserves throughout California and other states. She has traveled to Alaska and Northern British Columbia to photograph Eagles and Grizzly Bears in the wild. She has also traveled to Churchill, Canada to photograph Polar Bears as they waited on the Tundra for Hudson Bay to freeze. Nancy looks forward to many more travel adventures throughout the world as she seeks subjects for her paintings. She only paints from her own photos and observations and feels it is essential for a wildlife artist to observe living subjects in as natural an environment as possible. She continues to develop herself artistically through much practice and study of art. She shares with her husband and soul mate her passion for art and outdoor adventure, and pursuing the elusive perfect animal photo. Her love of individual Zoo animals has developed into an interest in the protection and conservation of wild animals in their natural habitats, the support of animal preserves throughout the world, and in promoting the use of zoos not primarily for human recreation, but as study, rescue and conservation resources. She has become increasingly concerned with the multitude of animals that are now endangered throughout the world.