ARTIST STATEMENT

NICOLE Strickland BOTTO

I'm inspired by creating something out of the elements that surround me in everyday life.  Whether it's painting, sculpting, or making something new in the kitchen, I love the challenge and chemistry of adding ingredients and trying something new.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but when I can tune into that inner voice and just let it happen, allowing the crazy ideas to flow- that's when I feel most alive.  

Texture and elements 

Everyday materials, both natural and man made can be found in my art creations.  It's hard for me to be restricted to just paint, canvas and brush.  I always feel a calling for texture and layering in most of the things that I create.  I will find a piece of string, fabric, a kid's crayon...even sea salt- you name it, it's fair game.  My strategy for painting is to try and be absent of thought and ego -it's the "anti-strategy".  It's the ultimate self love and no judgement zone to allow yourself to play with art like a kid and be a conduit for the creative.  It's not easy to access this place so when I feel it I have to run with it! 

PROBLEM SOLVING with art

 My close friends and family know that I absolutely love to be given a creative challenge...like designing a costume or solving a dilemma with a creative and artistic solution.  The engineer and inventor side of me is called into action when a client comes to me and asks me to make something for them that I haven't done before.  This is truly an exciting and fun part of my job because I get to invent something new in concert with a client.  It's so much fun to have a client be involved and using their creative side to inspire me.  What I love the most about this career path is being allowed to explore my inventive curiosity while also experiencing the meditative state of creativity.   It's this duality that drives me.