Questions
answered by Ms Nicolin personally.
How long time does it take to make one painting?
This is a question that I get a lot. It is, however, difficult to answer.
Each painting is individual and there is a lot of drying time involved since I work with oil colours. I generally say 3 months as an average. Some paintings take longer others not. I always work on several paintings simultaneously, when one is drying I work on another one. If I get stuck on something, I can always work on other paintings whilst I in my mind resolve the problem. Sometimes a problem can take several years but that is unusual.
Where do you get all your ideas?
Now that is a big question. I am very inspired by nature, and natural shapes. I am also fascinated by people and the human mind. I get ideas all the time. Some people think it would be difficult being inspired by nature while living in the city. I travel, and I remember, even things I saw as a child. I do sketches and take notes. I take a large number of photos. Sometimes a painting is developed from a dream.
How do you proceed once you have an idea for a painting?
Sometimes I don't need a model, but most of the time I have one. If I can't find a fish, branch, fruit or whatever it might be I need I might use photos. I need to see my object from different angles, and I often use a similar object that I find. If I do a bird for instance, I might need to study how feathers look, the pattern on the skin on the feet, the size and shape of the eyes etc. The studying, observing and sketching takes a long time. (I once found chicken feet on sale in a Chinese market when I lived in Toronto. I was over joyed and hang them outside to dry. I would keep them as reference for many future paintings I thought. The raccoons outside thought otherwise and since then I have never found such perfect looking birds feet again!)
If I want to buy an artwork of yours, who do I contact?
Do you express yourself in any other media?
If time permitted, I would do a lot more sculpture, it comes easy to me.
I find that all creators have something in common, writers, musicians, artists etc. To me music is very important, and I listen to very many different styles of music, depending on my mood. It much inspires me, even though I could not express myself in music.
I love to write, but unfortunately the disadvantage of speaking many languages is that not one language is strong enough to really write something of any consequence.
Do you take on commissions?
I have occasionally done that in the past, but only if the image desired falls into my category and style. It also depends on the purpose. If it is illustrating the need keep biodiversity, help saving a little bird that most people do not even know exist, or several "preserving the planet" projects, then I am quite willing!
How did you decide to become an artist?
Being an artist it is not a decision, it is a state of mind. It is not a choice. If you could chose, you would be anything that has a steady income. I have been very lucky, I now make a living as an artist, but it is never easy. In my early years when I met people socially, and they had not seen my work, they automatically presumed I was a "Sunday painter". It used to make me very indignant, now I don't see any of that anymore.
Do you have a favourite among your paintings?
I do and I don't! It changes with time, but they are all my babies. I like them in different ways, and for different reasons. I like "Together", "The spy", "Fruit salad", "La grand geule", "Blue velvet" and "Hello", all from different periods and with very different significations.
What painter has influenced you the most?
When I was younger I was fascinated by Van Gogh. My taste evolved and I soon came to admire the renaissance and baroque art, along with more modern painters like; Georgia O'Keeffe, Tom Wesselman and Gustav Klimt.
How long time does it take to make one painting?
This is a question that I get a lot. It is, however, difficult to answer.
Each painting is individual and there is a lot of drying time involved since I work with oil colours. I generally say 3 months as an average. Some paintings take longer others not. I always work on several paintings simultaneously, when one is drying I work on another one. If I get stuck on something, I can always work on other paintings whilst I in my mind resolve the problem. Sometimes a problem can take several years but that is unusual.
Where do you get all your ideas?
Now that is a big question. I am very inspired by nature, and natural shapes. I am also fascinated by people and the human mind. I get ideas all the time. Some people think it would be difficult being inspired by nature while living in the city. I travel, and I remember, even things I saw as a child. I do sketches and take notes. I take a large number of photos. Sometimes a painting is developed from a dream.
How do you proceed once you have an idea for a painting?
Sometimes I don't need a model, but most of the time I have one. If I can't find a fish, branch, fruit or whatever it might be I need I might use photos. I need to see my object from different angles, and I often use a similar object that I find. If I do a bird for instance, I might need to study how feathers look, the pattern on the skin on the feet, the size and shape of the eyes etc. The studying, observing and sketching takes a long time. (I once found chicken feet on sale in a Chinese market when I lived in Toronto. I was over joyed and hang them outside to dry. I would keep them as reference for many future paintings I thought. The raccoons outside thought otherwise and since then I have never found such perfect looking birds feet again!)
If I want to buy an artwork of yours, who do I contact?
Do you express yourself in any other media?
If time permitted, I would do a lot more sculpture, it comes easy to me.
I find that all creators have something in common, writers, musicians, artists etc. To me music is very important, and I listen to very many different styles of music, depending on my mood. It much inspires me, even though I could not express myself in music.
I love to write, but unfortunately the disadvantage of speaking many languages is that not one language is strong enough to really write something of any consequence.
Do you take on commissions?
I have occasionally done that in the past, but only if the image desired falls into my category and style. It also depends on the purpose. If it is illustrating the need keep biodiversity, help saving a little bird that most people do not even know exist, or several "preserving the planet" projects, then I am quite willing!
How did you decide to become an artist?
Being an artist it is not a decision, it is a state of mind. It is not a choice. If you could chose, you would be anything that has a steady income. I have been very lucky, I now make a living as an artist, but it is never easy. In my early years when I met people socially, and they had not seen my work, they automatically presumed I was a "Sunday painter". It used to make me very indignant, now I don't see any of that anymore.
Do you have a favourite among your paintings?
I do and I don't! It changes with time, but they are all my babies. I like them in different ways, and for different reasons. I like "Together", "The spy", "Fruit salad", "La grand geule", "Blue velvet" and "Hello", all from different periods and with very different significations.
What painter has influenced you the most?
When I was younger I was fascinated by Van Gogh. My taste evolved and I soon came to admire the renaissance and baroque art, along with more modern painters like; Georgia O'Keeffe, Tom Wesselman and Gustav Klimt.
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