Nicomi Nix Turner, Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory member provides some fascinating insights into her practice and experience as visual artist, as she responds to the questions below:
- Art is a visual language, what are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?
- You have a very distinctive style, what drew you to working with this medium?
- Did you do any formal study in the arts? Did you find it helpful or a hindrance?
- Who is your biggest art throb and why?
Art is a visual language, what are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?
I do not put much thought into how the work is communicating directly with the viewer. I think that I’m just a conduit. Often times I laugh to myself that a piece that, to me, is symbolic or a narrative of a much larger subject, could be viewed by someone as just being a drawing of a dog. It is always more to that to me—narratives built off of past live or those current. I suppose this is where the titling of work becomes important to me–as a window into my intention. Ultimately, it can be just a dog to the viewer or perhaps something more can seep in.
Over the years I have realized the importance of developing my own symbolism versus integrating symbols from elsewhere. This more often than not, obscures the meaning of things, but I hope it allows the work to exist in an adjacent visual language for the viewer.
You have a very distinctive style, what drew you to working with this medium?
Graphite is a humble material. There is depth in its practicality—something so human and primal to me in the act of line-making. I’ve enjoyed explorations in different mediums, but will never stray far from working with graphite.
Did you do any formal study in the arts? Did you find it helpful or a hindrance?
I attended art school for a short period of time. Although I enjoyed many aspects of study (engaging in critiques, discovering and refining personal practice, exploring art history) it ultimately was not the path for me. I think formal training is of great benefit for many, but not all. I think as an artist, you never cease learning, honing, and exploring, so although my path was self-guided, I’ve continued to explore and situate my practice as a continuous evolution.
Who is your biggest art throb and why?
Any artist who pushes their own boundaries of expression.
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