D.R. Nance

D.R. Nance, of Lumbee Indian decent, grew up in the “Piney Woods” of East Texas, riding horses and being a cowboy. His desire to work with natural elements began early in his life as he burned wildlife images into wood pieces gathered from the surrounding forests. His Shawnee grandmother encouraged his youthful artistic inclinations, but as he matured and experienced the demands of raising a family, he put his art aside and worked in the oil fields of Texas. After 20 years of wildcatting, he once again followed his heart an returned to his passion of makings things with his hands. He began by knapping flint to make arrowheads, and then bows, arrows and leather goods -- things that supported his interests in hunting and being in the mountains.In 1993,  D.R. went to a gourd farm, and he immediately began working with them. Gradually, he developed his unique style, which reflects his influence of the ancient Native American artists of New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico.

D.R., now an accomplished artist, creates powerful art as each uniquely shaped gourd speaks to him, inspiring him to burn designs and images into the outerskin and then to apply dye, paint, feathers, turquoise and metal inlay, native beads, antlers and leather. What is created is an image that speaks beyond itself, bringing the magic of art as a transformational media to the enhanced piece.

Diverse in his offering, D.R. makes feathered masks, purses, spirit dolls and medicine bowls. Each unique piece brings the power of the spiritual world and elements of nature to offer rare gifts of beauty and power. D.R. Nance’s artwork is held in private collections, exhibited in commercial establishments, and is shown in art galleries throughout the Southwest, in cities such as Santa Fe, Taos, Albuquerque, Durango, Tubac, Patagonia, Sedona and Tucson. D.R. lives and works at the base of the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in Southern New Mexico, where the Chihuahan Desert is wide, and the sun, the moon and the stars shine bright...an artist’s haven.

Awards

2009 - Buyers Choice Award First Place, Arizona Gourd Society

2009- 1st Place, Arizona Gourd Society

2008 -  1st & 2nd Place,  Eight Northern Pueblos Art and Craft Show, Okowenga Pueblo, Espanola, NM

2007 -  1st & 3rd Place, Eight Northern Pueblos Arts and Craft Show, Okowenga Pueblo, Espanola ,NM

2006 - 1st & 2nd Place, Eight Northern Pueblos Arts and Craft Show, Okowenga Pueblo Espanola, NM