NICOLE ELYSE YOUNG

One of my earliest memories of my mother is her hand guiding mine as I traced a heart-shaped cookie cutter on a white sheet of computer paper. Perhaps this is where I first fell in love with drawing. With a family background of Greek and Italian heritage I want to honor the women in my life who have encouraged and influenced my creativity and spirit.

When I was little, my paternal grandmother would affectionately spit in my direction practically every time she saw me. This was, of course, to ask for protection from the evil eye and dispel negative energy. While this may seem unusual to some, to me it is simply one of the many superstitions she instilled in me. Her house was filled with artwork, music, and the scent of cinnamon. I spent a lot of time listening to Greek mythologies intertwined with family histories at my yia-yia’s kitchen table as she baked fresh koulourakia cookies.

In the beginning of this semester I entered my senior year at the University of Rhode island. While my classmates and I were forced out of our familiar studio and comfortable routine I am proud to say we persevered. My intention as an artist is to create works that celebrate the beauty of the human figure, explore the supernatural, and arouse dream-like sensations in the mind. When this saga began, I had what now seems like unlimited resources compared to the old brushes and dying micron-pens I luckily has stashed in a drawer at home. With limited materials, and nothing but time I decided to start again.

This process for me has been enlightening and therapeutic. In a confusing and frustrating time, I was thankful for the opportunity to have a creative outlet. I thought a lot about what I like to draw and why. I find I have the most success when I sit down with a cup of coffee and no distractions. I gathered any materials I could find, including flashcards for paper and a Tupperware lid as my palette, and began to reflect on my subject matter. The more I made, the more i realized the materials are simply a device to explain my dreams in the physical world.

Instinct, micron pen and watercolor on paper, 8”x10”

Dreaming of You, pencil and watercolor on paper, 8”x10”

Lucy, Gouache on watercolor paper, 18”x24”