Nancy Diana Gorr grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, graduating
from Mt Lebanon High School and later Carnegie Institute
of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) where she
obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and
Psychology.  She also studied piano at Pittsburgh Music
Institute.  

In 1985, after a thirty-year marriage, Nancy moved to
Morehead City, NC.  Well known for her floral and still life
oil paintings on canvas, wood and metal, she turned  her
love of fishing into artistic creations through the Japanese
art of Gyotaku- "fish rubbing".  Other sea creatures such
as shrimp, crabs, seahorses, squid, octopus and goldfish,
as well as a variety of herbs are done in the same manner.
 

Handmade Japanese rice paper is carefully placed on top
of the cleaned and painted object then gently rubbed to
create a perfect impression.  Other individual
characteristics  and additions are needed to finish the
painting.

In 1985, Nancy was commissioned to create the North
Carolina Seafood Festival Commemorative poster.  Her
design, "The Chase", featuring a school of Spanish
mackerels and mullet minnows, was awarded first place
honors at the state's Association of Festivals and Events
Conference.  That same year she was named
"Distinguished Woman of the Year in Arts " by the Carteret
County Council of Women.  In October 2005.
Nancy's two submitted rubbing's were accepted into the
Forest Lawn Museum's Exhibit in Glendale, CA "ARTISTIC
NATURE: Plant, Animal and Stone Printing", a collection of
64 prints  and rubbing's  from the United States, Japan,
Chile and England.

Also in 2005, Nancy's oil painting on wood, titled "Fresh
Vegetables", won an honorable mention in the Kennedy
Production,"Best Artists and Artisans- NC 2005".   This
juried book series beautifully showcases 100 pieces of art
from across North Carolina and is listed online with
Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Borders.com, and is
available in various museums and galleries around the
country.

Nancy shares her knowledge and enthusiasm  for art by
being involved with  organizations, schools and programs  
which promote the arts- especially for children.  A member
of the Carteret County Arts and Crafts Coalition, Carteret
County Arts Council and the United States Nature Printing
Society, her paintings  have won numerous awards and
are exhibited in  galleries and shops in various states.

Nancy has two sons, Walter and Jon.  Walter lives in
Pittsburgh with his family and Jon lives in Florida with his
family.  She has three grandchildren.  Her twin sister,
Louise Maghie of Columbus, Ohio, shares her talent for art
and is also a violinist.

Nancy states, "I am happy  here in North Carolina.  It is a
peaceful and simple life living by this ocean that I love.   
Artists are more creative when they are content with their
surroundings.  God is creative, and in His likeness  we too
express creativeness- each in our own special way."

To identify her North Carolina artwork, Nancy added a
small seagull ( ~ ) to her signature above the "N" of her
name.
Nancy Gorr