Creative Growth is a major source of inspiration for me and I’m sure They Heal will feature many Creative Growth artists; today we’re looking at Nicole Storm’s work. Storm has been a member of Creative Growth since 1995, making mixed media abstract paintings for almost 30 years. She’s talented, expressive, and insightful.
Nicole Storm creates “immersive site-specific installations”. She is highly involved with the installation of her work and although her exhibitions might appear chaotic and cluttered, they’re intentional and curated. Roberta Smith for the New York Times lauded Storm’s exhibition at White Columns in New York one of the best Gallery Shows of 2021.
“…Storm has created a profoundly affecting installation: one that amplifies the freely-associative, improvisatory, and calligraphic nature of her work. Oscillating between drawing and painting, and through a process of repeatedly adjusting or amending the surfaces of her works, Storm has created an open-ended visual language that is uniquely her own.”
– Press Release from White Columns White Room
Here is Nicole Storm’s artist statement as recorded on Creative Growth’s website:
I used to work in New York I remember. I remember working with Kathy and Judge Amy Sarah. They were my best team.
My rainbow colors – pink , purple, orange.
We have pizza in New York.
My mother is my guardian angel.
Making art is like enjoying everything we have.
Take a look at my work – It’s a good explanation.
I do some prom queen on it.
I add Portland and bright sky,
and vanilla, coconut, strawberry smoothie in my hair
and peaches,
my sometimes rainbow.
I knew when I came back from Hawaii.
I’m particularly loving this excerpt:
“Making art is like enjoying everything we have.
Take a look at my work- It’s a good explanation.”
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nicole physically and emotionally commits to her process, giving all of herself.
Key Characteristics of Nicole Storm’s Creative Process
If you are interested in making art inspired by Nicole Storm, here are some artistic characteristics to focus on:
Color | Storm uses bright, vibrant colors as the background of her art. She creates depth by working with different washes and tones.
In your own work, this might mean adding layers and layers of color to deepen the contextual landscape of the work.
Physical Movement | Nicole is highly physical throughout the creation of her work. Not only does she resist sitting or standing for long periods, but Nicole gathers information and develops ideas as she dances, walks around, hides, talks to people around her, and moves her work around the space until it’s just right.
Do you move around in your own creative process? Try taking a walk, doing a couple squats or yoga postures, or shaking out your limbs to invite creativity into the body.
Mark Making | Storm rotates between working with gel pens, markers, and paint. She continuously adds layers and reiterates her art, ultimately creating complex and stratified work.
Make lines, squiggles, circles, loops, dashes, and dots. Add variety to your work. Don’t be afraid of doing too much.
mixed media on wood
Mixed Media | Nicole always incorporates multiple media in her work and regularly experiments with different materials and artistic methods.
Create art using at least three different materials. Use whatever you have on hand- paint, pencils, chalk, etc.
Shape and Size | Due to the non-uniform nature of the varied surfaces, such as cardboard, paper, and wood, Storm’s art is often asymmetrical.
If you create art with paper, cut along the edges to make irregular shapes. Consider how cutting the paper before or after making marks and adding color will alter the process.
