| NICOLE GLADDEN

As my painting style vacillates from figurative to abstract, I continue to explore the connected themes of simplicity, nurturing, and growth. My work tells a story of the human condition as we contemplate meaning in life’s unfolding.  

Although my work has been described as “Interior (mind)Landscapes”, through my art I am attempting to capture the human experience through the exploration of themes such as vulnerability, identity and transformation. Art imitates life and what often is revealed on the canvas has been reflected by culture. In that way I see myself as a storyteller, capturing a snap-shot of an essence of life in paint.

 My process is quite organic in the way that I rarely set out with a preconceived notion about what a finished piece will look like; therefore sketches are more compositional in nature than suggestive of the finished product. Often, found materials are used to apply paint, and scraps of patterned paper are secured to the canvas to add dimension and interest.  I do not shy away from the bold use of color, which is applied in many layers to covey emotions and create harmony in a piece, while also experimenting with form, until I know a piece is ready to tell its own story.

 The central influence of my creative process is womanhood as seen through the mosaic of experiences as a mother. My art is a soulful journey of exploration to make sense of life with color on canvas.  I understand that it is inevitable that parts of your old life will fall away, but as that happens it’s important to have a new response that honors and respects what was, while being open to what is to come.  For me, this kind of transformation begins in my studio each day.

 My studio is located in Oxford, MS where I live with; my husband, our youngest of three children, Josephine, 2 dogs, one cat, and 9 chickens. Although I earned a degree in Visual Design, I am largely self-taught, constantly experimenting with new techniques and pushing the boundaries of what I can do. If I’m not in my studio, you might find me doing something health related such as brewing kombucha, making bone broth or cooking healthy food. I also enjoy DIY projects, long bike rides with my husband, hiking, skiing, and travel, as well as coming home.