Meet Your Makers {Part II}

Afternoon! Want to finish off my (Nicole) style inspirations today and to keep you interested I'm including more photos. I'll gladly appease the masses! Plus it's fun to share nuggets of my past.

Earning my Bachelors of Fine Arts was tough, but so worth it! 

A two hour time difference combined with exhaustion of being 2000 miles from home caused me to oversleep my very first art class. I ran to the other end of campus in a panic. And of course my prof was the head of the Art Department. Lucky me. 

He was gracious that day, but the following quarter said I had to take my talent more seriously before I could enroll in more art classes. 

I quit farting around and thinking of art as "just fun", reentered the Art Department and declared my major with an emphasis in Studio Arts. 

The above self-portrait from Junior year was a defining moment. I had compared myself to others for too long. Envied their skills. Their perspective. Thought I had less to offer.

On the day that photo was taken, I became artist. A creator with my own perspective.

 For my Senior Show (above) I presented 'Reverie of Home' created over months of planning and two hundred+ hours of cutting, gluing, holding, breaking, re-gluing and re-holding balsa. It's a love-hate relationship. 

My parents flew in for opening night. I had a new haircut and BAD bangs. But otherwise it was surreal. The new head of the department, who months before seemed doubtful that I could pull it all together, told my dad he was pleasantly surprised and pleased with my final work. 

It was an indescribably proud moment to have a fellow installation artist acknowledge my efforts.

My friends and family considered me a "world traveler" because I went to college in...  Seattle, but I actually became one when I study abroad in Spain.

Based out of Salamanca, I took classes at the University founded in 1134, traveled to neighboring cities & Portugal on the weekends and fell in love with the cathedrals, history and orange slushies.

Prior to visiting Spain I gladly settled for and adored silver, but thirty days changed everything. Cathedrals adorned with centuries old stained glass. Arched soaring stone ceilings. Ornate baroque retablos of gold. Now I've got it bad for gold. And that's expensive!

My eyes are continually taking in new inspirations, so my style is constantly evolving. But I love that I can still look to certain periods in my life and experiences that continue to hold strong influences upon my unique taste!

That sums it up for me. Check in soon for Kara's inspiration post.

Best wishes for your weekend!

~k&n