Meet Nancy Eng
Brushstrokes of Creativity and Compassion
Nancy reviews her work and decides which to donate to help raise funds for her favorite charities.
My life revolves around family, art, tennis, and Teddy, our 60lb Grand-labradoodle.
Our roots are in Salem. I attended Englewood, Parrish, and North High School and graduated with an art degree from Oregon State University. My husband Calvin attended Salem Heights, Judson, Sprague High School, and Chemeketa Community College. We owned an insurance agency for 20 years and owned and operated Eng's, a well-known Chinese restaurant in South Salem. We currently own several restaurants/bars in Marion County.
Two years ago, my husband and I designed our home in the Illahe neighborhood with great help from Comfort Homes.
My love of creating art has always been a passion of mine. I love the variety of mediums, the friendships I've developed, and the freedom to create.
I have always been interested in the arts. My mother, her father, and my grandmother were all artists. Calvin has a background as a jewelry designer/sales. We have two daughters, Kayleen and Jennifer, who are also very artistic.
My current focus is painting abstract landscapes and figures, but I have made time for a few commissioned watercolor and acrylic paintings. I regularly use my sketchbook, draw daily, and create collages. Many of my sketches later develop into larger paintings.
I am quite involved in the art community. Band of Collective Artists, Salem Sketchers, Urban Sketchers, Artists in Action, and The Drawing Circle are some of the groups I'm involved with. I am a gallery artist with River Gallery in Independence, Currents Gallery in McMinnville, and Salem Art Association/Bush Barn Art Center in Salem. I recently finished a big show with the Oregon Artists Series Foundation, where my work was on display at the Salem Convention Center and Salem Public Library until June.
Every year, I try to donate a piece of art to charity. For the past few years, I've been passionate about Juliette's House, Family Building Blocks, and The Boys and Girls Club. I feel that we all have a moral duty to give back when we can. This lifts me up beyond my everyday experiences.
Tennis has been a great experience for me. For someone who was not involved in sports growing up, tennis is a big part of my life now. I took up tennis in my 40s and currently play at Salem Tennis & Swim two to three times a week. I participate in the USTA women's team tennis and have developed lifelong friendships while getting good exercise.
Calvin's family operated Eng's for over 40 years. As a result, he is a fantastic chef. We entertain a lot at home, with my husband serving many creative dishes. We love going to concerts and professional sporting events, traveling, and spending time at our beach home.
We love living in the Illahe community and seeing our neighbors around our cul-de-sac. It is fun to communicate within our neighborhood group text.
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You can enjoy one of Nancy's pieces at the Boys & Girls Club Art Auction at the Illahe Country Club on June 13, 2024. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at www.bgc-salem.org.
About the Boys & Girls Club Program: In the heart of Salem, Keizer, and Woodburn, the Boys & Girls Club's art programs are igniting sparks of creativity in young minds across the community. With eight locations spread throughout these areas, the Club provides dedicated art rooms or spaces in each branch, serving as havens for budding artists to explore their talents. Open every day after school and throughout the summer; the Club places a special emphasis on offering opportunities to children who may lack access to resources elsewhere. Despite the proven benefits of arts education, only a mere 13% of students participate in art classes outside of school. However, the Boys & Girls Club is changing this narrative, providing out-of-school art programs that allow children to express themselves freely. Research has shown that access to art fosters creativity and significantly improves social well-being, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Communities with robust arts programs have witnessed an impressive 18% increase in children scoring in the top stratum on English and math exams and an 18% decrease in serious crime rates. With 90% of local Club members hailing from economically disadvantaged homes, these art programs are not just about painting pictures but about painting brighter futures for the next generation.