Today we’d like to introduce you to Corinna Nicole.
Hi Corinna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Germany. Eight years later, my dad, an army man from Texas, was stationed back in the U.S, bringing my German mother and me along to his new base in Huntsville, Alabama. Speaking only German at the time, in a completely strange country, I felt like a fish out of water. After attending summer classes in order to begin learning English, I began my journey in the American school system. Growing up, I was a pretty shy and quiet kid that preferred to spend time alone drawing or coloring. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I realized I could go to college for art. I later attended the University of Montevallo where I primarily studied painting and drawing, graduating in 2008 with a bachelor’s in Art.
In 2009, I moved to California for my graduate studies in Art Practice, completing my Masters in Fine Art at UC Berkeley in 2011. I returned to Alabama in 2013 and landed a job at a financial institution, at which I am now a full-time Training Specialist. In October 2021, I submitted a studio application at Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment, the largest privately-owned arts facility in the U.S., and in June 2022 I signed my studio contract! When I am not at work or in my studio, you’ll likely find me on a volleyball court! As you can imagine, between a full-time job, my love for playing volleyball, and my art practice, I stay super busy!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The decision to study art was an easy one. I loved being creative and I was excited about the potential of having a successful art career. To be honest, I had a romanticized idea of becoming a well-known painter right out of college. Instead, I struggled to find my niche as an artist. I was making art about all sorts of subject matter and had no idea what my style was. After studying art for 6 years, I felt like a complete fraud when I landed a job in the financial industry instead of pursuing an artistic endeavor. While I continued to make art in my free time, I 100% had imposter syndrome. I questioned whether I was truly creative enough to be an artist, I compared my achievements, or lack thereof, to artists who were exhibiting in galleries, and I felt like a disappointment to all of my art professors.
I often felt uninspired and was making art aimlessly. It took a lot of convincing to embrace that every artist’s journey is unique and that my path was valid. I also had to embrace that Artist is not my only identity. It certainly wasn’t easy to let go of that romanticized version of the artist, but I now see that I was meant to follow my path in order to become the person I am today. In the last few years, I have focused on my art practice and developed my artistic style, but more importantly, I have become a more confident and happier person. I don’t believe I could have achieved the latter without the experiences I’ve had and the relationships I’ve built at my job and in my volleyball community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In 2012, I came across a video filmed by Sophie Windsor Clive & Liberty Smith, depicting a murmuration, an enormous flock of Starlings shape-shifting dynamically every few seconds. I was in awe of the mesmerizing spectacle created by these unique birds and felt compelled to make a painting.
Murmurations are fascinating to me because as spectators, we experience the behavior of the Starlings as a performance. While their movements seem orchestrated and rehearsed, they are actually instinctual and interconnected in a way that is difficult to understand. In my art, I try to capture the beauty of fluid movement and the power of connection found in swarms. I use two primary techniques to make my swarm shapes: stippling and controlled splatter. Stippling is the use of small dots, typically in pen, to simulate varying degrees of solidity or shading. Controlled splatter is a term I came up with to describe the process in which I tap two paint brushes together relatively close to the canvas to control the general area and direction of the paint splatters.
When I created the first painting inspired by a murmuration in 2012, I genuinely did not think it would become a series and ultimately the art I am known for. Even after ten years, I am mesmerized by swarm behavior and I continually want to explore different media, techniques, and approaches. I love seeing people connect with my art whether it is because it elicits a sense of wonder and awe or because they recall memories of witnessing a similar event.
I am so glad and proud that I didn’t allow my imposter syndrome to derail my pursuit of an art career. Timing is everything and I know now that I have journeyed down the right path at just the right pace.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Being genuine and kind. I’m all about positive energy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.corinna-nicole.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corinnanicole.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CorinnaNicole.Art
Image Credits
@R.e.willphotography and Corinna Nicole
