Interview with Nicole Woodruff
“I paint figurative oil paintings about the psychological effect of physical experiences.”
Nicole Woodruff is an American artist living in the state of Utah where she was born and raised. Nicole is a contemporary figure painter who primarily works in oils. Nicole’s experiences with her own health, having Lyme disease, has greatly affected the way she looks at the psychological effect of the health and function of one’s body. Nicole has had paintings in the following shows this year: “Shelter,” “Paint The Figure Now 2020,” and “Ambivalence,” paintings from each show are available through 33 Contemporary.
What Concept or narrative is behind your work?
The concept behind my work is about finding a connection between the psychological and the physical. Often a physical experience will alter how the mind will think about a particular thing or event.
In my paintings specifically, I am painting the way my mind is processing and trying to accept the physical symptoms and sensations of my medical condition, Lyme Disease.
How true are you to your artist Statement?
When I am working in a series, I am true to my statement in the sense I am painting a specific theme. I am constantly after the investigation of the thought process, the connection between the mind and the body and why it’s important as I am working. That is not to say I don’t venture out from that narrative now and then to paint a different subject or to explore different techniques. I am always first and foremost a figure painter and to separate me and my experiences from anything I paint is impossible. Every artist leaves a bit of themselves in their work, whether it is in a very serious piece or exploratory work, it is inevitable. So every piece has that investigation in it and I return time and again to my original statement and narrative because it is too much a part of my psyche.
Explain your process:
The process of beginning a series or a painting always begins with an idea that I can’t seem to put out of my mind. I begin to imagine compositions and the idea of what my final piece would look like and feel like. I take my own reference for my work and often use myself as a model. Setting up lighting and using self timers I experiment with photos for a few hours or up to a few days. I crop and edit my photos before printing them. I believe in using tools, I don’t think artists should struggle for the sake of struggling. I work from photographs, and I draw out my compositions on paper before I transfer them to my surface. It is easier for me to work out my proportions in my drawing first so that when I paint my main concern is color, form, saturation, values. That way proportions can be a secondary concern. I still have to address proportions though and my lines do get lost from my transfer but it speeds up the process for me. I will paint in many layers, starting with a rough block in but it is never accurate the first couple of times. Painting in this way is the most accurate and my favorite technique I have tried. It isn't until a few layers into the painting that the figure will start to feel lifelike to me. That is where it gets exciting. I have a plan going into each painting but that plan will often change, I listen to what the painting tells me and that is ultimately the direction I will take it.
What role does my artwork have in society:
Although my artwork is very personal to me, I believe it is applicable to everybody. Psychological impacts caused outward surroundings are part of life for every person. My experiences although, personal and very large in my life, are not special nor worse than what so many others have gone through. At the end of the day I am painting a human experience. The simple fact that we are human with our own experiences, trials, and thoughts makes my work valid. By painting my story I hope to better see others, I hope to see the experiences of others in a more empathetic way. Because as I have struggled, I see others have struggled. If I can help people see outside of themselves, then I think my work as a place in society.
What artwork in history has inspired you the most?
To narrow one artwork down as the most inspirational in my work is difficult but the one that keeps coming to mind is “Judith Slaying Holofernes” by Artemisia Gentileschi. This is an intense painting, one that shocks you as you see it and makes you want to know more about it instantly. I learned about this piece, and Artemisia, and was taken in by her story. What inspired me was how she painted unapologetically, she made dramatic paintings about big topics. She also was painting in a time when women didn’t get the recognition or opportunities they deserved and I admired her for doing it anyway. I don’t paint violent images like this specific piece, but I want people to look at my work and wonder what is going on, in a good way, like I do when I see her work.
