Daily Inspiration: Meet Nancy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy.

Hi Nancy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always felt that I was meant to paint and create art in this lifetime. There’s a certain feeling that comes over me when I’m creating that’s difficult to put into words, almost as if it’s something I was always meant to do. I’ve been illustrating for as long as I can remember, drawing on the walls of my parents’ apartment before I was even old enough to understand what it meant to be an artist.

At twelve, I began painting. My family wasn’t wealthy growing up, so I learned to work with whatever I could find. I would scrounge up pieces of cardboard to use as canvases, experimenting with whatever materials I had available: acrylics, Sharpies, watercolors, pastels, and colored pencils. Although the mediums changed, my subjects rarely did. I was always drawn to portraits and skulls, and that fascination has remained a part of my work to this day.

Even when I was in school, I remember sitting in class thinking, God, I could be painting right now. My inner-city school had very limited resources for the arts, so much of my artistic development came from teaching myself. I had to figure things out on my own, experiment, make mistakes, and keep going. In many ways, that process has never really ended. Even now, I’m constantly learning and finding new ways to challenge myself as an artist.

Music is one of my greatest sources of inspiration. When I listen to a song, I often begin to see images in my mind. Certain sounds, lyrics, or emotions can spark an entire visual world that I can’t stop thinking about until I bring it to life on paper or canvas. For me, creating art is a way of translating those feelings into something tangible, something another person might connect with in their own way.

Eventually, I knew I wanted to share my work beyond my own walls. I dreamed of having an online shop where people could collect my prints and original pieces, which led me to create Unsainted on Etsy & even a clothing brand dedicated to metal heads called Blood Made Clothing that I run with my cousin. From there, I began vending at night markets as a way to get my work out into the world and connect with people face-to-face. My first market went incredibly well, and that experience gave me the confidence to keep pursuing this path. What started as a way to share my art with others opened doors I hadn’t even imagined, including my first opportunity to be featured in a gallery.

Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many incredible artists and becoming part of a creative community that continues to inspire me. It’s been especially meaningful to see something that began with scraps of cardboard and a desire to create grow into something I can share with others.

Today, you can find my work at The Hive Gallery & Studios in Downtown Los Angeles and Sugarmynt Gallery in Pasadena. I’m still learning, still experimenting, and still chasing that same feeling that made me want to paint in the first place. I think that’s what keeps me going: no matter how much I grow as an artist, that initial urge to create never seems to leave me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. I think there’s always a certain kind of turmoil that comes with being an artist. There’s a constant voice in the back of my mind telling me I’m not good enough yet, that I should be better, that I should be further along than I am. I’m not sure I’ll ever completely silence those thoughts, and perhaps I wouldn’t want to. That restlessness pushes me to keep experimenting, to keep learning, and to never become too comfortable with where I am creatively.

When I first started selling prints, I was constantly questioning myself. Why weren’t my sales higher? Why wasn’t more attention coming my way? It’s easy to become discouraged when you’re putting so much of yourself into something and waiting for the world to notice. Over time, though, I learned that building something meaningful takes patience. You have to give yourself room to grow, experiment with your work, and curate a collection that genuinely reflects who you are as an artist rather than rushing to create what you think other people want to see.

I’ve also learned that not every piece I create will resonate with everyone, and that’s okay. For example, selling my artwork on clothing has taught me a lot about understanding my audience and finding the people who truly connect with my work. Not every experiment will be a success, but there’s something valuable to take away from each one.

I think the biggest lesson has been learning not to measure my progress solely by sales or outside validation. There will always be room for improvement, and there will always be new challenges to overcome. I’m learning to embrace that process rather than fight against it. The journey hasn’t been a smooth ride, but every setback has taught me something, and every small victory has reminded me why I started in the first place.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an artist from South Central Los Angeles, working primarily in acrylic and graphite. Most people know me as Notoriouss Nancy, the name you’ll find featured throughout my work. I believe my art has a distinct visual identity, something recognizable as my own. Let’s just say I’m not spending my days painting butterflies and calla lilies.

I would describe my style as gothic fantasy, with a fascination for the macabre, the mystical, and the sacred. My work often features skulls, portraits of women, religious iconography, and mythical creatures like fairies. I’m drawn to the contrast between beauty and darkness, the ethereal and the grotesque, and the things that feel both otherworldly and deeply human. I like to create imagery that feels as though it belongs to a world of its own, somewhere between a dark fairytale and a fever dream.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I feel like I’m taking risks all the time, especially as an independent artist. Every event I participate in is a bit of a gamble. I never really know what to expect; one market might be incredibly successful, while another might bring in very few sales. But I’ve learned that taking a risk means being willing to show up even when you can’t predict the outcome.

I also make an effort to participate in events that support artists who are just starting out. Of course, I want to make sales and see my business grow, but I don’t believe every experience should be measured by how much money you make. Even if an event doesn’t go as well as I’d hoped, someone new might discover my work, remember my name, or connect with something I’ve created. Sometimes, simply putting your art in front of someone who has never seen it before is a win in itself.

I think you have to be willing to put yourself out there, take chances, and accept that not every opportunity will pay off immediately. If I only pursued things that guaranteed success, I’d miss out on so many opportunities to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unsainted.etsy.com/
• Instagram: notorioussnancy

Image Credits
Notoriouss Nancy