@nauccole

Instagram: @nauccole

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

Hi, my name is Nicole and I am from the sunny little island of Singapore! I’ve loved art and design since young but never thought I would pursue it seriously as a career until recent years. I took the more technical route of studying Architecture for 3 years before making the switch to Visual Communication and have been having a blast in my academic journey.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I love working with strong colours and bold shapes. Color is such a powerful element in graphic design and I love experimenting with it to create different moods in different projects. Depending on the assignment, I also like to include lots of details to create intricate artworks. 

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

I use AI for almost everything because illustrating on it is always the smoothest process for me but I also enjoy the occasional pencil and paper.

4. What is your artistic process like?

Generally, I start by looking for inspiration - subject, ideas for composition, mood boards etc. before moving on to the sketching bit. I try not to focus too much on the details at the beginning so I get to play around more on Illustrator at the digital stage. From there, it’s just a ton of trial and error to see what looks good! I’ve found that my illustrations always turn out better when I’m not trying too hard or stressing too much about it. 

5. Who and/or what inspires your work? 

I get inspired so easily by all the great artists I see on Instagram and Behance and from the environment around me! A lot of my work has been inspired by nature and I love drawing plants and creatures. Ernst Haeckle’s scientific artworks have always been a great source of inspiration in terms of color and line work. 

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

I’m a rather introverted person hence art has always functioned as an outlet for me to be creative and bold. It has definitely shaped the way I view the world as it has opened my eyes to so many types of art forms and the effort that has to be put in to create something beautiful. I’ve learned to be more appreciative of the art around us.  

7. Where did you study?

I spent 3 years studying Architecture in Singapore Polytechnic and I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design Art) in Nanyang Technological University, majoring in Visual Communications but also dabbling a little in Product Design. 

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would hope to be gaining some working experience in the graphic design industry in five years and that I would grow to be more skilful by then.

9. What about in ten?

Perhaps in ten years time, I would have sorted out exactly what I want to do in my art journey and would be heading toward the right track. I would love to make a name for myself in the industry and be putting out works that I’m proud of. 

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

Have you ever scrolled through Instagram or Pinterest and found yourself completely inspired and encapsulated by a piece of art? That happens to me all the time when I am sourcing for inspiration and it completely transports my experience. That is something I would hope to be able to do for someone else, to create a sense of awe in them. Art isn’t really something that can make a major change in the world (as of right now) but I do believe that it is powerful enough to shift perceptions and create significant impacts and I hope to be able to do that with my art. 

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

This is such a hard question for me! I love Korean cuisine but also pizza but also Thai food. 

12. Favourite book?

I don’t read very often at all but I did find Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning very eye opening. 

13. Favourite genre of music? 

Rap and hip-hop oddly gives me some kind of confidence that I really need to get through my day but I also enjoy mainstream pop.

14. What are your hobbies? 

I love to create art for my own enjoyment and on my own time but other than that, my favourite thing to do would be to stay home with a good movie and a big bowl of snacks.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

I probably would have continued studying architecture and possibly become an architect but I also had a strong interest in marine biology or biomedical science when I was younger.