Nico's Art Corner

How to even begin this… It was years ago when I first started figuring out that Painting was what I wanted to do. I messed around with stuff in my friend’s basement way back in 2013. No idea what I was doing whatsoever, I soon found that I was self-teaching myself about art and what it meant to be an artist. It intrigued me so much! What spoke to me was that I had to do more, I had to find more, I had to be more… And so I did. I pursued the realm of art, and was confused. What I was walking into that every artist walks into is the struggle of being an artist. It had nothing to do with a specific medium of art, yet, it did at the same time. It didn’t matter that I was painting. I could have just as well as explored photography, music, writing, and the struggle of finding myself as an artist would remain the same. So what does an artist struggle with?

For one, style, right? Style is major for any artist, even if you are starting out, creating for fun, an enthusiast, or moving into art as a career.  Style is what is unique to the artist, not just the art that is being created. Because competition is a natural component of sales, competition becomes a factor Yet, it was all too similar. Like layers, I found myself associating these different aspects of my life, and integrating them into what I call “Flow Art.” The art of Dance and music, expression, abstract and structure… It all blends, and I had no idea what I was discovering. But I knew I had fallen in love. I am still learning to this day about how deep art takes me. There are limits within structure, but the structure I apply (frames) is limitless. The amount of color options are limited, yet, through dance and expression, there is limitless emotional connection. It is deep, this thing I have found. And I am along for the ride through the unknown, having a blast!

It is hard to express the feeling you receive when the hard work you put into creating a product of your heart actually gets some sort of appreciation. Enough appreciation that someone else is willing to buy your work, that is. But with that being said, the feeling is awesome! I spent a few minutes taking photos with this piece, “Twister.” Looking back at these photos, I just laugh. I documented the raw emotions, playing around with the photos as if we were on a date, or some sort of emotional separation. Hah! This piece was special to begin with. It is what I consider an original. Not in style, or because there are no prints, but because this was one of the firsts I ever created with intention to sell. I painted this piece nearly three years ago, in 2015. It was then, when I started exploring how to frame my pieces, and if I should continue framing them. There is history tied to this piece, and it rests in a happy home as far as I know. What a cool feeling.

Where do I come from? To play this game on a Universal level, well, I come from you. And you, and you, and that tree, and over there, look, a dinosaur! I exist, just as you do because of the history tied to this beautiful place. And because I am you, and you are me, is the art that I create just an extension of you? I guess what you are wondering is: Where did I grow up? Where did I find art…? Who is Nico Miller?

I was born in a little city known as Cottonwood, UT. But that was where the hospital existed, and crazily enough, the doctor that monitored and assisted still practices there at that hospital, some 30 years later.

I grew up in a quiet little dead end neighborhood, protected by a farm in my backyard, and old, retired people in the front yard. Not literally protected with linked arms and pitchforks… No… There weren’t many kids is what I mean… Sagehill Dr. I will never forget that address. I shouldn’t say never because who knows… Alzheimer’s, am I right? To get back on track, this little quaint place had

Framing art pieces is one challenge any viewer faces. From shadow-boxing to exquisite wooden, metal, or glass frames. And these frames guide our eyes to better focus on what the artist is trying to depict. From my standpoint, I want to frame my pieces to help guide that eye from the get-go. Granted, I fully support getting an additional frame for protection, or viewing pleasure. It isn’t always easy, making the decision for the viewer. In a way, I force the viewer to look at my pieces the way I want them to. It’s strange, to put my own interpretation of a frame on a piece, and hope that the viewer is open to the idea that the frame itself is art. Painted on, unique, and expressive. There is a direct link between how the frame works with the piece because the piece draws out inspiration for the frame. Quite interesting indeed from my perspective. How do you, the viewer, view my frames? What a fun game!

I got the itch to finger paint one evening. I could not explain it, I just… wanted to. I wanted to know what the paint felt like as I squeezed it through my fingers, I wanted to know how painting felt without a foreign object in my hand.

Interestingly, I fought this. “You’ll make a mess… You don’t want to clean up a mess… It is just going to feel weird…” Yet, the curiosity was overwhelming. It felt as if I was a kid. Hell, I am a kid at heart, and even more so when I paint.

I didn’t put on gloves. I didn’t prepare for the mess. I dove in, all 10 digits at once, and what an experience! Swiping my fingers back and forth, swaying to the music; dancing my fingers off. My fingers were dancing across the canvas! It was absolutely beautiful watching what I was creating. Creating beautiful images of abstract color and then wiping them away felt pretty cool, very temporary. Learning how to use my fingers as brush tools was even more fun.

Breaking away from the all-out-kid-attitude, I began studying how I can utilize these new found tools. What a trip! My mind found a way to explore creativity, and there wasn’t a foreign object between me and the canvas. It was direct contact. The mind. The hand. The canvas.

This was my first finger painting experience. I do not think I have learned much about how to properly prepare for the clean up. I am still a kid when it comes to that… Holy cow! Yet, the concept of finger painting has evolved. I have discovered a way to express my heart and my art in a different way. Basic and primitive, yet fun and creative. It is strange to think that my ancestors were doing exactly what I am doing, but maybe without the mentality or approach that I have. Art is constantly evolving, and yet, we find ways to go back to our roots. This is important for art, and artists alike. We were artists before the concept even existed. So what does this tell you? Do we continue on this path of evolutionary artistic creation by going back to our roots? Is it impossible to ignore our roots? Subconsciously, I would argue that it is damn near impossible to ignore our roots. Innate creatures of habit.

Sure, I may have stumbled onto something new to me. Finger painting… hah! Who would have guessed it is what I would be doing? Maybe some of you think this is a no-brainer. But along my journey of artist creativity, not I. This was a discovery! A discovery of something ancient.

The title of this piece is “Mushroom Fairy.” Painted in 2015, this piece is absolutely one I am more connected to. Maybe it is actually because I used my fingers, and I eliminated the foreign tool.