Nicole Rapoli is a professional artist located in Newburgh, NY. NikisArt began back when she was finishing up her BFA at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, where she studied illustration and dappled in creative writing.
Ever since she was a little girl, Nicole has loved animals, so it's no wonder they are a common subject in her art. Coupling her subjects with her storytelling skills, she enjoys painting fun narratives and "giving life" to the imagination.
While versed in a variety of mediums, including acrylics, pastels and digital, watercolor remains her choice medium as she finds the light quality and transparency of the medium ideal for maintaining the whimsical undertone of her paintings. You can see her artist's statement here.
It's been a lifelong obsession for me to see something in my head and then want to bring it "to life."
When I was five I asked my mother to write out the story I made up for a group of pictures I had drawn. I can still see the orange marker lines, surprisingly recognizable as a group of long necked dinosaurs, scrawled across a pile of old printer paper. She used that same marker to write down my words as I dictated a tale of dinosaur boy meets girl. I don't remember why I was thinking about dinosaurs that day; I just know I had wanted them to exist, for their world to be as real as it could be.
There isn't always a rhyme or reason behind the artwork I create. Often times I simply ask myself "what if" and go with it, evolving my ideas into full blown narratives, from which I can then pluck the perfect moments. I approach these moments with a style that borders realism but is influenced by comics and animation so that my artwork may have a more fantastical feel to it. My hope is that each person can take something unique away from my art, whether it be something as simple as a smile or a story of their own.
Absolutely. You can contact me here.
My pricing varies depending on the job, but for general portrait work or Pet Personas pricing, you can get an estimate here.
It depends on the piece (the level of complexity, size, and my schedule). After we talk about what kind of painting you want I can give you a proper estimated time.
It depends on the medium you're requesting and the size and complexity of the piece, but generally I will.
At the moment, no, but I would still love to hear from you if you're interested. I will hopefully be offering that service in the future.
Do you offer any art classes?
Not at this time, but it's something I would like to do in the future. If you live within the Hudson Valley, NY area please let me know if you're interested.
I am currently in the process of setting up an online store where you can purchase prints of work I've created and even original pieces. Check my Blog for updates on when this will be happening, and be sure to watch Niki's Mall for new shopping links. In the mean time, please visit my shop, Digital Whimsy, for some fun digital artwork. And of course, you can always request a custom original painting.