About the Artist
NANCY HARKINS was born in Independence, Missouri, and has lived in Oklahoma since the age of seven. As a young child, she excelled in drawing and painting and at sixteen was accepting portrait commissions. Watercolor soon became her favorite medium. She has also enjoyed working in graphite.
Strong value contrasts and patterns of light and shadow in Nancy's landscapes and architectural subjects have won her awards in numerous exhibitions, including Best of Show and Best of Watermedia in Women Artists of the West's Annual Exhibitions. That same drama is captured in her botanical iris paintings, two of which have been published in the book, The Best of Flower Painting. The American Iris Society also chose her designs for the first commemorative poster and for a new hybridizer's medal. In addition to mounting several solo exhibits, she has shown her work at Tulsa's Gilcrease Museum in conjunction with the "About Face" portrait exhibit and in the "American Art in Miniature" show for several years. Her work has also been included in Gilcrease's Zarrow Center show, "Oklahoma Impressionism." One of her watercolors was chosen to be published in the watercolor anthology, Splash 19: The Illusion of Light. She has been awarded signature memberships in Women in Watercolor, Women Artists of the West, Mid-Southern Watercolorists (Diamond), Southwestern Watercolor Society, Oklahoma Watermedia Association, and Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, and is a member Bartlesville Art Association, and Heart of America Artists' Association.
Nancy's watercolors are included in private and corporate collections, and her pencil drawings are featured in two books, Seasons of Life and Seasons of Love. She accepts commissions in watercolor and graphite. She also teaches watercolor classes at Waterworks Art Center in Tulsa and on occasion through Gilcrease Museum and Bartlesville Art Association.
SELECTED SHOWS & HONORS:
Honorable Mention 2021-2023; 2025, Women in Watercolor International Competition
Bosque Art Classic, 11 years; Silver Medal for Watercolor, 2013
Women Artists of the West, 18 years, Best of Show; Best of Watermedia
"Splash" watercolor anthology, 2019, "The Porch of the Ash Mill Farm" featured
"Seasons and Places, Watercolors and Drawings by Nancy Harkins," solo show, Circle Cinema, Tulsa, OK
"Seven Views from BAA," Price Tower, Bartlesville, OK
"Splash 19, "The Illusion of Light," North Light Books, "The Porch of the Ash Mill Farm" featured
Grapevine Gallery, OKC, Three-Person Show with D. Larue Mahlke and Edward Aldrich
Arkansas Territory Bicentennial Juried Traveling Exhibition (6 venues)
Mid-Southern Watercolorists, 10 years, Wiggins Award, Waggoner Award, Kastin Award & Diamond Signature Membership
Southwestern Watercolor Society, 7 years, Merchandise Award & Signature Membership
Mayfest Invitational Gallery, 1996-2018, Honorable Mention
Gilcrease Museum, "American Art in Miniature," 6 years
"Drunch and Annual Women's Show, Grapevine Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK, 2014-2018
"The Best of Flower Painting," North Light Books, two watercolor Iris pieces featured
One-Person Shows: Theatre Tulsa, Bank of Commerce, Scissortail Gallery, Art Center of the Ozarks, First Pryority Bank, Southbrooke Flowers, The Willow Tree, Rogers State University, Thyme Bistro, Circle Cinema, and Bartlesville Center for Art and Community
