Nancy Land McCurtin
Blind artist and author
Photo Courtesy of Daria Amato
Blind Artist and Author
– For 68 years I lived a pretty normal life. I had been a schoolteacher, teaching music in the elementary grades in public schools, I had married and divorced twice, raised 2 children and eventually wound up as an administrator in the financial world for 11 years, from where I finally retired. Now was going to be my time, a time to focus on art and just traveling and doing what I wanted to do.
Then on April 28, 2016 I awoke in the morning, all alone, blind. Just imagine my terror. Apparently during the night, I had had a stroke that left me completely blind. The rest of my life had changed completely.
After suffering a deep depression, I was encouraged to write about my experience, but I decided to write through a series of sea creatures. The story of Topsey will convey the headaches and trials of living as a severely handicapped individual, and will show how life can still be possible, even enjoyable, through the help of friends and family.
This book is a story of courage and resourcefulness for people of all ages. It is a story of determination and willpower to overcome obstacles. There are several handicapped creatures in the story, in addition to Topsey. Their handicaps are encountered with determination in order to live a full life.
Nancy Land McCurtin: The Blind Artist and Author Behind the BlindBrush&Pen
From Sight to Insight
Nancy Land McCurtin began her creative journey as a sighted artist, viewing the world through a lens of color and composition. When she lost her sight, the world didn’t go dark—it became a landscape of textures, memories, and new ways to communicate.
Today, Nancy creates as a blind artist and author, proving that creativity is not a visual faculty, but a spiritual and emotional one. Through her brand, BlindBrush&Pen, she shares the resilience of the human spirit and the beauty of the “unseen” world.
The Tactile Technique
Nancy’s work is a celebration of touch. Her “non-visual art” utilizes innovative methods to translate imagination onto canvas:
- Raised Outlines: Using string and specialized adhesives to “map” the boundaries of her subjects.
- Texture & Grit: Incorporating sand, modeling paste, and fabric to give each color a physical identity.
- The Power of Memory: Drawing on decades of visual experience to “paint” with a depth that transcends the physical eye.
Author of the Topsey Series
Beyond the canvas, Nancy is a storyteller. Her Topsey Series introduces readers to whimsical characters and heartfelt adventures, blending her love for narrative with her unique perspective on life’s transitions. Her writing, much like her art, focuses on themes of authenticity, courage, and finding one’s voice in the face of change.
Advocacy & Vision
Nancy is a passionate advocate for accessibility in the arts. Through her blog and outreach, she encourages others to look beyond limitations. Whether she is speaking to students or fellow artists, her message remains clear: Beauty is not limited to what can be seen.
Awards
WILMA – ARTS Woman of the Year
Nancy McCurtin
Artist & Author
Topsey and Friends
Local artist Nancy McCurtin paints and has written a children’s book about one determined sea turtle named Topsey. Like Topsey, McCurtin has learned how to navigate daily life after losing her vision. She became blind in 2016, but before then had taken art classes with Cheryl Crane-Hunter. Crane-Hunter helped McCurtin continue her love of painting with the help of adapted materials. The two launched Topsail Island Visions (paintfortheblind.com), which offers products to help others with differing abilities also pursue their art. McCurtin published the first of a three-book series about Topsey called How Topsey Lost His Vision, published by the local imprint SlapDash Publishing. Others books are expected to follow.
In The News
Daria Amato – Making Darkness Bright
Topsail Magazine – p.59 A Brighter Future
Nancy Land McCurtin is a blind artist and author living along the coast in southeast North Carolina. Nancy’s first book “The Complete Story of Topsey the Blind Sea Turtle” is an inspirational book for all ages.