Meet jennifer nicholson | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with jennifer nicholson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi jennifer, what are you inspired by?
The natural world around me is a constant source of inspiration. Being raised, I was a bit of a  wild child when I was little, running around in the woods and exploring on my own.   I still find calm in the wilderness and believe it to be mind clearing and a source of wonder.   I’m inspired by the flora and fauna we live among from the smallest delicate flowers to snow capped mountains and towering evergreens. I feel a kinship with the woodland creatures that live in this wild place. What flows out of me is a whimsical version of the wilderness where owls drink tea and become friends with foxes and deer. I paint a version of the world that I hope makes people smile.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It took me years to find my own artistic niche.  I’ve been creating since I was little and have experimented with many art mediums but it felt random and ungrounded for many years. Often, this left me feeling hollow and I would abandon it thinking I had little talent or direction. In my younger years I was not focused enough to draw out my true creative nature but instead mimicked those around me. It wasn’t until I was older, more focused and confident that I was able to tap into my unique creative self that had been waiting patiently all these years. All of a sudden the floodgates of ideas opened and my art had some meaning for me and it became my passion. Now it’s essential for me to create. It’s become my meditation and my sanity. I think that my art is unique because it is me. I see each creation as a little piece of myself, a vivid part of my imagination that has waited a long time to be seen.  These days, my ever evolving multidisciplinary approach involves a mixture of wood burning and painting on live edge wood slabs or wood slices.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live on the border of Rocky Mountain National Park where there are no trails or public access.  I would take them to my secret favorite places within this area.  Then maybe a picnic in a beautiful little clearing in the forest that I often say is inhabited by hobbits and fairies when no one is looking.
Then a short bike ride to Tahosa Coffee house at Camp St. Malo which sits at the base of Mt. Meeker.   One day we could visit The Old Gallery in Allenspark to shop. I am so proud to be one of the many talented artists there. It’s a destination art gallery on the Peak to Peak highway.  A must is breakfast at the Meadow Mountain Cafe and lunch at the Rock Creek Tavern that has the best pizza. We are really blessed in this tiny community to have two amazing places to go eat. Ending the day at my forest house is one of the best parts for my visitors. It’s not uncommon to see a moose or elk wander by. The quietness of mountain living, the wildlife, and the unpolluted stars at night are what they really come here to experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My unconventional upbringing by my parents encouraged me to be true to who I am and let my imagination run free without boundaries. The immersion into nature by my Mom and Dad at a young age shaped my reverence for it and made the wilderness feel like home to me. I learned that I can always go there to feel centered. Both my parents were very creative and I was exposed to many kinds of art forms. I was encouraged to try new things and was told I could be anything I wanted. They were exceptional teachers at following your heart.

Today, my wonderful husband Bob and son Chase both support my artistic journey and always encourage me to grow as an artist and in my small business. Both lend a tireless ear to bounce my ideas off. My two dogs and cat help keep things fun and lighten up my mood when I get too serious or stressed.

Website: www.folktailsandfeathers.com

Instagram: folktails_and_feathers

Image Credits
All images and photos belong to Jennifer Nicholson