Nancy McCurtin
Blind artist and author
Photo Courtesy of Daria Amato
Nancy McCurtin is a blind abstract artist, author, and speaker from coastal North Carolina. After losing her sight in 2016 following a stroke, she rediscovered her creative voice through tactile painting and writing. Today her artwork, books, and advocacy inspire others to see beyond physical limitations and embrace life’s unexpected journeys.
Meet Meet Nancy McCurtin
Nancy McCurtin is a blind artist, author, and speaker from coastal North Carolina. Before losing her sight, she spent many years as an elementary school music teacher before later working as a financial administrator. As retirement approached, she looked forward to traveling and pursuing her passion for art.
On April 28, 2016, Nancy awoke to discover she had suffered a stroke during the night and had completely lost her sight. In an instant, the life she had planned was gone, and she faced the daunting challenge of learning to navigate a world she could no longer see.
Rather than allowing blindness to define her future, Nancy found a new creative path. She developed tactile painting techniques that enabled her to continue creating original artwork without sight and discovered a new voice as an author.
Her first book, Topsey, tells the story of a young sea turtle who loses his vision. Inspired by Nancy’s own experiences, it explores resilience, friendship, and adapting to life’s unexpected challenges while reminding readers of all ages that hope and purpose can still be found after profound change.
Nancy Land McCurtin: The Blind Artist and Author Behind the Blind Brush&Pen
From Sight to Insight
Nancy 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, Blind Brush & 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