Sleeter excels as landscape artist, photographer

Editor’s note: This is the sixth in a series focusing on the artists of the Suring area in honor of Suring’s centennial celebration. Over the past 30 years, Nancy Sleeter has progressed from reluctant art student to an accomplished artist whose work has been featured in tourism magazines and on a lottery ticket. In the 1980s, Sleeter had completed several classes offered by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College when it was announced that an art class was to be taught. Although she was reluctant to sign up, she attended the first class to test the waters and found it very intriguing. Betty Rae Turner was the first teacher. According to Sleeter, Turner introduced art as a class to be enjoyed — not taken seriously in the beginning, but to have fun with each new learned skill or technique. “I was so green, and everything was new and so much fun,” Sleeter recalled. She has been hooked ever since, and now favors painting with oil. Her favorite subjects are landscapes, with most of her ideas coming from within walking distance of her home, and landscapes with animals, especially deer. Sleeter said Turner also told the class “don’t copy,” which Sleeter confessed all the students did at some time. From Turner’s admonishment about copying, Sleeter became interested in taking photographs and created her paintings based on her photos. When the publishers of the Oconto County Discovery Guide requested photos from the public to advertise tourism, Sleeter sent in photos, and several were published. One of her photos was selected to appear on a scratch-off lottery ticket. Photos that would otherwise be packed away are used for birthday cards for family and friends. Although Sleeter was originally unsure how the photo cards would be received, she’s learned the recipients look forward to receiving them. And with encouragement from the town of How homemakers, Sleeter displayed and sold her photograph cards at local craft sales. Sleeter said it pleases her that several friends have used her photos for their paintings, and those paintings have won awards at the Oconto County Fair. Although Sleeter no longer photographs outdoor scenes to serve as new ideas for her paintings, she thinks of art each day and is thankful to have had such an enjoyable hobby. She agreed with local artist Mae Adams, featured previously in A Slice of Suring, who offered this advice: “You should try art. You might like it.”