The journey along the artistic path of a businesswoman transitioning into a fulltime artist began with a solo trip nearly two years ago. Traveling alone was a period that Nook described as spending time with oneself, discovering one’s identity, reconnecting with nature, immersing oneself in the surrounding atmosphere, and that was the starting point of picking up the brush to paint once again.
“At first, my paintings followed the style ofImpressionism, capturing scenes of nature,” sherecalled. They mostly depicted seascapes, waves,trees, or mountains. During each journey, she alwayscarried a sketchbook and a small set of colors tosketch inspiring scenes, whether by the seaside,on a bus, or near a mountain. The ambiance,surroundings, and feelings of that moment would beremembered, including the scent of the sea or theforest. Sometimes, she would spend hours alone,recording these experiences and feelings in memoryor as photographs before translating them into largeoil paintings back at her private home studio.
We had the chance to interview Nook at herhome, where her artworks are prominently displayedthroughout. From the parking lot, staircase, receptionarea, to the living room, tabletops, cabinets, andevery corner of the walls, colors fill the space. It feelslike stepping into a gallery, surrounded by vibranthues that bring life to every moment of the day. Thechoice of colors is visually pleasing and lively, drawingattention and giving power to Nook’s paintings. It’srare to find any dull images, even in black and white.
She shared a particular artwork with us, createdduring her illness, where she used every part ofher body, even rolling onto the canvas. Despite thepredominantly dark colors like navy blue and black,it surprisingly doesn’t evoke gloominess. “Yes,because I always have hope,” she responded witha smile when we noted this observation during ourconversation. That seems to be the charm of eachpiece of artwork – something she wants to convey.Apart from their beauty, they are filled with positiveenergy.
Although Nook’s early artwork started as a childhoodhobby, and she hadn’t undergone formal art training besidesshort basic courses, that didn’t limit her creativity. Even withher first drawings, she wasn’t afraid of imperfection or deviationfrom the original. Like many, she combined travel and art, whichgradually led to the discovery of her own style in Abstractart. Seascapes, mountains, skies, trees, and sunlight all aretranslated into Abstract style, while still capturing the essence ofnatural beauty. These artworks serve as travel journals of eachtrip’s beauty, while also being a journey of self-discovery.
One of her (and our) favorite paintings hangs in her modestsized art gallery at home. It depicts a forest viewed from an upward angle against the sky, with sunlight streaming down. Using vibrant colors that resonate with nature, the image is not only stylish and captivating, but also carries symbolism akin to the light of hope. Whenever one feels drained, looking up at the sky for solace is common, drawing healing energy from nature to lift up our spirit and move forward.
Another painting that bursts with vitality and feels incredibly lifelike portrays the sea with crashing waves and sea incredibly lifelike portrays the sea with crashing waves and sea spray splashing against a yellow background. It depicts a sense of motion, much like the restless sea.
If you take the time to visit and listen to the stories behind each painting, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of their perspectives and perhaps even find inspiration to awaken the artist within you. Stay tuned for her first art exhibition at the Sriwiang Gallery on September 20.
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