When Nancy Murphree Davis is painting, time seems to stand still. When she’s not painting, Davis’ world moves at warp speed.

“We are so excited and honored that Nancy will take time out of her very busy schedule to share her talents with the Johnson Center of the Arts this week,” said Vicki Pritchett, JCA director.

Davis, a Troy native and the daughter of Tom and Susan Murphree, will be the guest of honor at an artist’s reception at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Johnson Center for the Arts at 300 E. Walnut St. in downtown Troy. The artist’s reception is a community-wide event and everyone is invited.

Davis’ exhibit, “Natural Focus” is featured in the upper gallery of the Johnson Center and includes her watercolors that were influenced by nature.

“The artist’s reception will be a great opportunity to meet Nancy or to re-new friendships,” Pritchett said. “It will also be a unique opportunity to hear her talk about her artwork. This will not be a formal art talk where you sit and listen. It will be very informal. Nancy will walk around the gallery with our guests and talk about her paintings, her inspiration for the paintings and the process. She will answer questions about her work. Nancy will have stories to share about her art that will give us greater insight into the art and the artist.”
Nancy now lives in Key West, Florida, so naturally, her artwork is influenced by the seashore, Pritchett said.

“Many of the paintings in the ‘Natural Focus’ exhibit are watercolors that were inspired by walks on the seashore. Her art includes birds, fish, shells and reefs. Nancy snorkels and she is an underwater photographer so a lot of her art includes things of the sea that most of us will never see.”

Davis will also lend her talent as an artist at the ArtBridges Summer Teachers Workshop at The Studio Thursday and Friday.

“Nancy and Mary Foshee will discuss movement and how it corresponds in nature with plants and how it is recreated in art,” Pritchett said. “Mary, as a dancer, and Nancy, as an artist, will bring together art, nature and movement. Through art, plants and maybe a dance step or two, the participating teachers from around the area will discover ways to integrate plants, art and movement into science in the classroom.”