Nancy Freeman’s grandmother was born into slavery, but she was given a chance that few enslaved people dared dream of.
While working in the house of her owner, she accompanied children to their art lessons. Her talent was noted, and her mother was given permission to bring her to the art teacher in the evenings for her own lessons, or at least that’s how the story has been spread through the family, said Freeman of Sandy Spring.
That creativity has been passed down through Freeman, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, and onto one of her grandsons, who is autistic and writes poetry.
Freeman strongly believes her creativity comes from within. “I paint from feelings. It’s what comes through me,” she said. “Sometimes it’s just the spirit moving through you,” Freeman said during an interview at J Hollinger’s Waterman’s Chophouse on Colesville Road in Downtown Silver Spring.
Her huge brightly colored paintings have decorated most of the restaurant walls since her birthday celebration there April 2 and will remain on display until the second week of May.
Freeman has never had her own studio, instead usually using the floor of her house or one of her daughters’ homes. This mother of three and grandmother to 12 throws plastic on the floor and goes to work.
Despite being in her tentth decade, she has no intention of slowing down. “I love being 90. You get all kinds of special goodies when you are 90.”
Freeman was born in Kentucky, spent much of her youth in Ohio and came to this area to earn a master’s in fine arts from Howard University.
While she has been offered money for her some of her paintings, she doesn’t sell them. “I would rather pass them down to my family.”
