Meet the Artist
Nancy Kochenower is an award-winning artist who specializes in both oil and watercolor portraits. Her work is found in museums, institutions, businesses, and private collections nationwide and has also been featured in local and national publications. She is a member of the Portrait Society of America and the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg.
Kochenower’s training began as a child when she developed an interest in drawing the human face and form.
While pursuing a degree in education at Southern Adventist University in Chattanooga, Tennessee, she began to accept commissions for portrait sketches. Her pursuit of painting continued with instruction at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN, in 1972.
Her work expanded to include teaching private painting classes to both children and adults as well as working as a freelance illustrator from 1988-1992.
As a result of her teaching Kochenower developed Learn to Paint Kits, a series of step-by-step painting lessons suitable for both adults and children.
In 1992 Kochenower became a full-time watercolor portrait artist. She began to accept commissions for oil portraits in 1997, and now her main focus is painting portraits in oil.
Artist’s Statement
I believe my passion for knowing people and for expressing that knowledge and appreciation on canvas is a gift from a loving God who continues to bless my work. It is with grateful acknowledgement of Him as the Master Artist and Creator of all things that I come to the easel eager to study and paint the people He has made. I’m both thrilled and inspired as I discover the beauty He has given each person and seek to portray the highest essence of each individual on canvas.
My desire is that every commission I fulfill will bring joy to those who view it and that God’s blessing will rest upon all with whom I work.