Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Collie.
Hi Nicole, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
First and foremost, I am a mother, wife, and an artist. I’ve been an artist practically my whole life and really began to focus on it seriously in high school because it was the only thing, I was good at. I felt that I was pretty bad at everything else (I got Ds in the rest of my classes). I was told by many people that I could not make a living as an artist, so I had to pivot and figure out how I could make a career out of being creative. Graphic Art was the answer for me. I had many failed attempts at completing college over three decades. I attended Palm Beach Atlantic College, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale twice, The Art Institute of Seattle, and then finally graduated from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Summa Cum Laude.
In my first job, I made just enough money to cover my gas to and from work, basic essentials, and lunch money for my son. However, I really wanted to experience corporate life because I had worked primarily in retail and then in property management for my family. After college graduation in 2012, I started meeting people who were in need of graphic design materials and began freelance work, which I have continued to this day. I ended up working for Dickies through a connection with a college classmate. It was such a blessing that I met her during undergrad because that relationship helped me to get the job. I learned so much working at Dickies and sharpened my skills as a graphic artist while there.
I was inspired to launch my nonprofit, Creating Gray Spaces, because of my desire to give back. I believe that I have a gift with my graphics, and I want to participate in doing what I feel is the right thing to do as an occupant of this planet. I want to help people who are helping themselves and have put the work in but just need some assistance with the visual piece of their projects. That is how Creating Gray Spaces was born. I knew that I would need help in other areas, like writing and being social, because I am somewhat of an introvert, so I partnered with people who could fill in those gaps. My partners are Kimberly Luttery, who handles writing and editing, and Chantel Marie, who is an educator and social butterfly.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The Nicole now and the Nicole years ago are two totally different people. Obstacles and challenges for the old Nicole would have resulted in tears and frustration. Today’s Nicole is patient, puts in the time and the work, and is openly honest with herself and the people around her.
We all have obstacles and challenges no matter who we are. If we can recognize at a young age that it is OK to fail, we might be able to handle life a little better as adults. Learning how to fail is more important than learning how to win. Failing teaches you how to get back up, dust yourself off, and start again. Not everyone deserves a “trophy.” You win some, and you lose some, and it is OK to lose. Losing does not have to define who you are in a negative way. Losing can refine you and make you better and stronger at your craft and other areas of your life. Losing is a teacher that can show you where you need to improve.
I believe that scars are beautiful and are a representation of what you have gone through and overcome. My paintings are a visual journey of the life that I have lived and the things that I have conquered. If you never try, that is a decision. We need to be honest participants in our lives. I have scleroderma, a skin disease that affects mostly women ages 30 -50. It causes hardening and tightening of the skin and can be aggravated by stress. I needed to learn how to manage my stress and found that being honest first with myself and authentic with other people to lessen the impact of this disease on my life. I used to be a people person at the expense of my own health. I’ve learned that I have a responsibility to myself first.
There are cultures that are able to move in this world without being reminded of their race or skin color. As a black woman in the workplace, I was unfortunately reminded of my ethnicity with certain microaggressions from others. My passion when speaking was sometimes mistaken for aggressiveness or combativeness, making me the “angry black woman.” I hate that label, and it is such a misrepresentation of who I am and not reflective of so many women of color who are labeled as such.
I knew that I would not work in the corporate world forever, and wanted to do something that I was passionate about. That is how Creating Gray Spaces came to be. Creating Gray Spaces was founded by three black women with a desire to help other women who are part of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community and anyone who needs help with the services that we provide with Education, Graphic Design, and Writing/Self-Publishing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I enjoy painting the female body as a symbol of empowerment. Women spend so much time trying to look better, to hide or not acknowledge their flaws, and that is sad to me. My desire for everyone, especially women, is that we can accept ourselves unconditionally, flaws and all. My inspiration comes from my own journey of accepting myself. That is why the images I paint have a celestial and ethereal feel to them because they are a representation of our inner selves. I believe that all artists should have the freedom to use the medium that they are most passionate about when expressing themselves. So now I want to be a leader, the pied piper of the art world. I don’t want other artists to follow the same path that I chose, but I want to help guide them toward their personal creative path. This desire to help other artists is how my non-profit Creating Gray Spaces came to be and why I founded the artist platform Emerging Creatives. Emerging Creatives is a group of creatives who believe in each other’s talents. This platform is about respect and creating a space that is not judgmental but a place where creatives can come and have conversations, ask questions, and give answers. It is a place where you can feel good about who you are and what you create.
The main theme I pursue with my artwork is women loving themselves, flaws and all. As an artist, I strive to show others that we should all love ourselves, love each other, and live life without judgment. Identity is what my art is about. I grew up with body issues, just like many people these days. I had to overcome some encounters that negatively impacted my self-esteem. Those encounters caused me to rebel, and my rebellion was to paint nudes because I come from a very conservative and strict background. My conclusion was that if I can stand in front of a mirror naked and like the person that I am, I have won the battle of self-worth and self-esteem. I describe my work as Surrealism. I believe the images are celestial and ethereal (which means supremely good, extremely delicate, and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world) with a spiritual undertone. My work is full of color, texture, and symbolism. I call my creative process CREATIVE CHAOS. I do not have one particular way that I approach my paintings besides putting paint on the canvas and building from there. Art is a history stamp, and my work often reflects my emotions and experiences at the time.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I totally believe in taking risks. If there were a bigger word than totally, I would use that word. If you never take risks, you put yourself in a position to neither succeed nor fail. Putting myself in this position is really important because it goes directly back to what I’ve said earlier about failure. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and that is all about taking risks. I think some of the biggest risks that I have taken in my career are opening my art gallery in Nassau, leaving the Bahamas with my son in tow, and moving to the United States to finish my education with my husband Chris by my side.
Starting a non-profit, Creating Gray Spaces is another big risk that I took because building that type of organization takes time and commitment. But I believe in it and us. We will succeed. I don’t always know how, but I’m willing to put the time and the work in. Behind any great success, there was probably great failure. My journey has come with a husband who is very supportive and willing to stand by my side. That has had a tremendous impact on my self-esteem, self-worth, and willingness to power through despite the risks, obstacles, or failures. But I understand that the most important ingredient to my success has been me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.creatinggrayspaces.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatinggrayspaces/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatinggrayspaces.nonprofit
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gray-spaces
- Other: https://www.nicolecollie.com/
