Joined Carmel Art Association in 1965.Nancy Johnson's interest in art began at an early age and continued after moving to California, where she was greatly influenced by Armin Hansen and Sophie Harpe. She studied at Hartnell Junior College, San Jose State University (B.A.), and later took workshops with George Post, Rex Brandt, Edgar Whitney, Eliot O'Hara, and Richard Yip.It was at Hartnell that Leon Amyx encouraged her to pursue a career in watercolor painting and teaching. She returned to Carmel after teaching art in high school for a year. For several years, she owned Nancy's Artists' Palette and Gallery. In 1963, she returned to teaching art classes, which she continued to do for 25 years.