Bio, statement
Elk Falls (version 2), Vancouver Island, BC, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on WC paper
“Ultimately as a traditional artist most comfortable painting or drawing, my approach toward art emphasizes value in the work process, where means to expression are diverse, and despite the outcome, effort is always worthwhile.”
I grew up in Alberta, Canada, where three years of formal education led to a home-based business in eastern Ontario, working freelance while my children were young. Along with a variety of on-site work for Interior Designers, commissions included fabric design, illustrations, people and pet portraits, and customized wall murals for homes and restaurants. Until moving to the U.S. in 2002, volunteer work at schools involved developing educational projects around themes of Art History, multiculturalism, and environmental issues.
Modifying styles is characteristic of my work, mostly dictated by subject matter and the unique challenges presented by each individual piece as it unfolds. I work intuitively and don’t really have pre-set, predictable methods, except there is constant concern for negative spaces being as important as the main objects. I’ll remove material to create marks, imply structures, backgrounds and spatial movement, using damp cloth and dry brushes on acrylics paintings or watercolors, pottery tool and fingernails with oil pastels, and different sizes of erasers for work in graphite and soft pastels.
Photography is an ongoing interest, where I’m guided by the experiences and observations, influential in my artwork as inspiration and reference. Recently (2020-24) I’ve been doing large format soft pastels on paper, trying a broad range of subjects representing some of the amazing places I’ve traveled to.
If you see a painting you wish to purchase but it has been sold, it can still be recreated — not exactly, but certainly in the same spirit as the original. I will also paint and draw scenes from your own photos. I’m open to special requests. Just ask! Contact nikki_coulombe@hotmail.com
My photography can be viewed here. On Flickr, a photography website, I created and maintain 3 groups: One Sweet World , !Phenomenal! , and Green is Green, Who Don’t Like Green?
Dancing With Trees (also called The Majesty of Trees) is a solo art exhibition with accompanying website sharing photos of every conceivable aspect of trees, located in many locations across the globe.