Interview

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I am an artist and photographer originally from the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. I now live in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area where I find inspiration in the surrounding mountains and rural areas for my latest creations. I was originally a painter who would use photography strictly for reference material, but after physical illness made it difficult for me to paint, I found comfort within nature and expressing myself artistically through photography. I had success previously in oil painting and was recognized at the time locally throughout the Chicagoland area. I held a solo exhibition at Madame Zuzus owned by talented song writer singer and musician Billy Corgan, but serious health issues forced me to resign from my art and focus on instead regaining my health. After a break from the art-world, I regained my health and upon submitting my photography, on a whim, to juried art exhibitions and having it accepted, I quickly realized my photography is also a talent and gift that must be shared with the world! My photographs, digital paintings and artworks have been recognized and featured in multiple juried group exhibitions in prominent fine art galleries throughout the United States. My work is currently being exhibited and featured in the Marblehead Arts Association Gallery in Marble Head, Massachusetts, at Kavanaugh Gallery in St. Charles Illinois as well as in an exhibition at CORE Artspace, Denver Colorado. My work was also recently featured at Vestige Concept Gallery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I have received international success with acceptance into multiple group juried international exhibitions. I have won multiple awards for my photographic artworks. A second and third place in Cago gallery, two years consecutively in 2022 and 2021 for their international juried exhibition, All landscapes for my photographs Sunflower fields and Over the hills far away, Embraced by blue skies and an honorable mention award in December 2022 for the International exhibition for my Photographic art work, Roots with in this soil (which you can see below) in Helvetarts international juried exhibition based in Geneva, Switzerland.”

What inspires you?

“As an artist, I do not necessarily need inspiration to create art. The inspiration comes from within, from the enjoyment of creating and being surrounded by beauty. I for one have always been captivated by the peace and beauty nature offers. Unlike man made activities modern life has to offer, nature played a very important role in my healing process physically, mentally and spiritually. I healed from my health issues using only natural medicine and I am grateful to be able to share my deep understanding and appreciation of nature through my artworks. Nature never falters and is always there for you. During the storms we may be presented with in our lives, there is always a stream to catch our tears, and a sunset to brighten our lives.”

“If I can inspire, awaken, and bring, solace, peace, and happiness to others as I have found myself while creating, then I have achieved my artistic goal.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“The majority of my work is based on nature. Landscapes, sunsets, flowers, water are all themes throughout my artwork and is based on the relationship between nature and mankind. My appreciation for the beauty and peace that nature offers us all also plays a significant role. Navajo Nights and Roots within this soil have a very similar theme and meaning behind the artworks. In Navajo Nights, the message and symbolism in this piece is based on humanity going back to the way humanity should essentially be, a simpler time that was exemplified by our natives and native tribes. Living free and being one with our earth, preserving our nature and life on earth.
Dream under the indigo skies and discover we are one with this earth, here under the indigo skies on this Navajo night! This piece is currently featured at Marblehead Arts Association Gallery, Variations 202 3 exhibit. With Roots within this soil, the meaning and symbolism exemplifies a very similar message. We are all roots, rooted deep within this soil; the same soil. We all must learn to accept, love and understand everyone's differences, so we may be able to prosper and grow freely together, peacefully as one. Roots received an Honorable mention award at the Helvetart international Juried exhibition December 2022 Helvetart Geneva, Switzerland. The ability to pursue one's dream and keep your dreams alive also play a major role within the body of my artworks. I still pursued my dreams despite the difficult life circumstances I lived through and being faced with the fact that a tomorrow is not always granted and not knowing if I would ever be able to live out my dreams that were cut short in 2014.
An underlying message to never give up on yourself or on yours dreams is the inspiration behind one of my artworks Vertical Horizons, The sky's limitless. It is a reminder to my viewers to never give up on themselves or their dreams and to reach beyond the limits they or others may have placed upon themselves. The sky is not the limit. In fact, the sky is limitless. Just as our potential and our dreams. Another theme in my artwork is hope and persistence. In the darkness of the sun, lifting the veil reflects this theme. I lived through a very bleak time period in my life. Through severe health issues and other very difficult life circumstances along my life journey. I feel that the difficult life circumstances I lived through and survived have been a blessing in disguise to my life. During this time my artistic focus shifted mediums from painting to photography, which has gained me recent artistic attention not only locally but nationally and internationally. My sudden shift in mediums occurred due to these difficult life circumstances I was faced with. I am grateful to be able to share my deep understanding and appreciation of nature through my artworks. I feel I am here during this very difficult time in history to assist in creating a more positive vivid future through my art and enjoy sharing my artistic passions and wisdom I have learned along the way. These life experiences have made myself not only a wiser and stronger person but also made me the artist I am today! Just as the storms in our lives may feel intense and too dark to bear, there is always a new day and a light on the other side. If you find the strength from within and are patient during the storms throughout our lives, once the darkness and the veil is lifted in your life, you will find there is beauty after the storm.”

4 A darker shade of grey on the horizon Martineli Nicolle.jpg

How would you describe your work?

“I would consider much of my photography to be traditional fine art with a twist of contemporary art elements due to my choice of vivid colors and natural elements. My digital paintings are far more adventurous and would be considered modern contemporary and abstract impressionism and non-representational abstract. My artworks would be described as contemporary modern impressionist with a dash of modern abstract. I consider myself to be an all-around artist at heart. I originally was an impressionist oil painter heavily influenced by the impressionism era of Van Gogh and Monet and was very evident throughout the early body of my work.
My art has deeply evolved throughout the years since my debut in the art world in 2014. After my health issues that led me to photography; I have become much more open minded to different mediums and styles of art and various mediums of artistic expression that I previously would have never thought of treading. My photography is traditional nature scenes, yet is bold and has a painting type look and feel to them. As being a painter originally, I tend to not care for plain traditional timid photography. You will always find and feel the bold colors and emotions behind my photographic artworks. I call my photographs, photographic artworks because even though the images are captured traditionally, there is always an element of self to my photographs. I add very vivid elements of colors to intensify the feelings in my subject matters as a form of artistic expression. To express the bold feelings and embrace the feelings that were felt when initially viewing the scenery. That plus the beauty is usually the initial draw and what captivated me to capture the images and scenery in the first place. My digital paintings are very modern, contemporary, abstract and abstract impressionism. With my digital paintings, I feel much freer to explore newer artistic styles, due to it being an entirely new avenue for myself.
My paintings and digital paintings intertwine images within reality, where dreams meet reality and cross over and come to life. They expand upon my most inner feelings and emotions on personal life reflections and life experiences. I paint with colors that express my emotions, using either bold or pastel shades of Color depending upon the particular emotions I am expressing. The cascades of colors and vivid images I feature in both my paintings and photographs are a direct representation of the bold, immutable, beautiful feelings I experiences while initially viewing the subject matter and scenery for my artworks. I see technology in this new artistic medium for myself as simply a new exciting creative opportunity due to feeling less constricted, being it's a new avenue I have not fully travelled. As a new opportunity to push past my own boundaries as Artist I had previously imposed and created upon myself. It's an opportunity to be able to explore and express myself with endless possibilities. While using my imaginative creative ideas and inner feelings and applying them artistically. I simply see This new artistic medium for myself as a new form of creative expression for myself as an artist. There is a freeing feeling I feel while exploring this newer artistic avenue. there are no boundaries and the potential is limitless. I would consider much of my photography to be traditional fine art with a twist of contemporary art elements due to my choice of vivid colors and natural elements . My digital paintings are far more adventurous and would be considered modern contemporary and abstract impressionism and non representational abstract. My artworks would be described as contemporary modern impressionist with a dash of modern abstract.”

Which artists influence you most?

“The impressionism era has always played a very heavy role in my personal life and throughout my art career. Van Gogh has always been a huge impact on my life as an artist. His life itself has also always inspired me. I also identify and relate to him due to my struggles with health in my past and knowing that he too struggled with his own issues and difficult circumstances. I relate to and connect to both his work and his life story. I very much have always identified with the late great artist on a personal level and his artistic influence inspires my beautiful moving bold colored artworks. His life is an inspiration to me in many ways and the important lesson to never give up on your dreams. He was struggling to even be able to eat yet he always managed to still be able to purchase his paints and always put his passion of his art as a priority and his dreams first. He kept painting despite his difficult life circumstances and kept chasing his dreams. Also, despite his art not receiving the proper attention he well deserved, which many artist at some point early in their life and career can also relate to, he teaches the true meaning and spirit of what being an artist is and represents. Both Van Gogh and Monet, artistically speaking, various artistic elements played a very prominent influence and inspiration in my impressionism style paintings and even in many of my current photographic artworks and digital paintings.”

What is your creative process like?

“My creative process first starts with photography. I at times pick out specific areas that I wish to capture, yet usually my best photographs have been captured spontaneously and a lot of times on the way to the initial destination off the beaten path and, in a beautiful field that the general public is unaware of it's existence. I feel these particular photos tend to be better photographs due to the excitement of spontaneity discovering a beautiful scene that people are unaware of, that and knowing that I will be able to share this beautiful secret location with the world. I feel that this combination of beauty and intensity is felt from within many of my photographs .
My photographs are very often images of scenery and areas that the general public are not aware of if I was not led accidently to these off the map undisclosed locations to photograph them. I feel that these types scenarios tend to lead to better photographs due to the inner feelings of excitement of accidently discovering such a beautiful scene. The intensity of my energy exudes and is felt from within the photograph. I feel that this combination of beauty and intensity is felt from within while visually viewing many of my photographs. As an artist, I feel that the scenery actually chooses me and that I am a vessel to share the beauty of that particular scenery in that moment of time with the world, to enjoy for as long as they wish.
Most of my more recognized images were captured spontaneously, Sunflower fields was discovered on the way to a state park in Pennsylvania. Under soft blue skies, upon a springs breeze in our dreams, was captured after taking the wrong turn on my way to photograph waterfalls in a completely different location in West Virginia. Both In the Darkens of the sun, lifting the veil and Awakened under haunting skies, awaiting the suns was captured as well spontaneously. I literally pulled over and burst from my car to capture the beauty of this intense moving scene. Everything immediately stopped and was put on halt in order to capture both of these images, everything despite the weather conditions. Sometimes beauty is found in the most unexpected times and in both cases unexpected weather conditions.
Many of my digital paintings are quite often inspired by a photographs but not always a direct representation of the original image and photograph. Although, there are instances where I prefer to keep the images more photographic. The ultimate decision depends upon the meaning behind the particular image and scenery and the particular message and feelings I am trying to convey to the audience. At times these feelings are felt and addressed simply through the photograph itself. However, when I feel that the need to further expand upon my initial feelings that were felt initially from the scenery and/or subject matter that is when I decide to expand beyond the photograph and apply my inner feelings to create my digital paintings and artworks.
My digital paintings and digital artworks are created using my knowledge and experience I acquired through painting combined with the ease of creation upon the computer. Unlike physical painting, I feel much freer to try new experimental ideas and styles as I can easily remove something I do not like and try again, until I have achieved the overall look I desire. As a digital artist I am essentially using my stylus as my brush and my laptop and tablet as if it were my Canvas. I believe in advancing with the current times using this technology to my advantage but, not being used by the technology. Having hands on approach every step of the creative process is essential to myself personally as an artist. I see technology in this new artistic medium for myself as simply a new exciting creative opportunity due to feeling less constricted, being it's a new avenue I have not fully travelled. As a new opportunity to push past my own boundaries as artist I had previously imposed and created upon myself. It's an opportunity to be able to explore and express myself with endless possibilities. This artistic medium for myself is a new form of creative expression for myself as an artist. There is a freeing feeling I feel while exploring this newer artistic avenue, I feel my artistic potential is limitless.”

The essense of life water equals life MartinelliNicole Copyrighted 2022 ucdesignstudios.jpg

02 In a ripple of time swimming through the collective of our minds smaller for submission purposes.jpg

Tree under Soft blue skys- dreams and recollections Nicole Martinelli All Rights Reserved copyrighted www.ucdesignstudios.jpg

Fuchsia fusions from the earth fINAL.jpg

Golden forest semblence gallery size resize.jpg

MartinelliNicole -Vertical horizons -The skys limitless Resized no watermark version -copyrighs reserved www.Ucdesignsstudios.com.jpg

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“I, as an artist, feel that artists ultimately hold the key to making the world a much more peaceful reality with our beautiful artworks, imagery and the deeper meanings of inspiration behind the art. If the public truly understood the deeper meanings behind many artists’ artworks that inspired their creations and applied these deeper insights on the world around us to their day to day daily life I feel that many current issues within society could be resolved and people may walk away with a much deeper understanding and insight for the world and life itself. Art is created through and with our deepest emotions and in return ignites emotions and can awaken the mind heart and soul. It brings peace and beauty while uniting people from all walks of life. I look forward to a future where artists are seen in the light that we all have within us and are able to shine our knowledge, beauty and truth. A society that allows us to use the keys artists all hold, to open the doors to creating a much more peaceful, beautiful, brighter reality and society for us all.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“The year 2022 marked my official return to the artworld. I was selected by jurors for the juried exhibition at MVA gallery Bethlehem Pa for Vertical horizons sky's limitless and Enchanted forest ,falls around us .
The year 2022 closed out on a high note my photographic art work, Roots within this soil received an honorable mention award in the juried international exhibition at the Helvetart based in Geneva, Switzerland.
I am still extremely honored by receiving the honorable mention award and feel this opened many doors for the future of my artistic career. I, since November 2022, have been featured in eight juried gallery group exhibitions since. In prominent galleries throughout the United States and multiple international online juried exhibitions. While November 2022 marked the return of my presence in the art world there have been many highlights worth noting of my 2023 artistic year. The year the beautiful prestigious Gallery National exhibition in the beautiful prestigious Gallery National exhibition, Flowers, Trees and Roots The Wild World of Plants. The Exhibition duration was longer than other exhibitions and why it made it a bit more special. The exhibition began December 10, 2022 and went through spring 2023. The gallery featured a video during the exhibition of my photographic artwork, which can be viewed on my website. The beautiful floral exhibition came to an end March 25, 2023. January marked the second exhibition of the 2023 year for me, In the darkness of the sun, lifting the veil was accepted and featured in January 2023 at Webster arts Gallery located in Webster grove MO for their annual 2023 open themed exhibition .
On March 25th, the date of the closing of the View art and cultural center exhibition, Another gallery group exhibition opened that I was happy to be apart of and a highlight for me. the innovative National exhibition in your wildest dreams located in my home state in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania at Vestige concept gallery . The exhibition featured both of my Photographic artworks, Vertical Horizons the sky’s limitless and, Under soft blue sky’s upon a springs breeze in a dream. My selected artworks for the exhibition were shared and featured by the gallery on their social media Instagram account page. I had a very happy memorable experience with the gallery. I was also featured in the recent exhibition Environments at Kavanaugh Gallery. The gallery is located in my old home state of IL. I was born and raised in the western Chicago land suburbs and the gallery is located in St. Charles Illinois. I was given the opportunity to attend the exhibition opening and speak on my selected piece, In the darkness of the sun lifting the veil, to further discuss the over all meaning behind the particular artwork. In the Darkness of the Sun lifting the veil represents to me the difficult time period in my life with my health and other difficult circumstances and finding my way back to my heart and passion of art through my new artistic medium of photography. We all will find in our lives that the storms that come in our lives at times just as severe as weather conditions that occur just as unexpectedly, that once the darkness from our lives, that is the veil is lifted, we can clearly see and have a deeper visualization of what we are truly meant for in our lives. you will find that there is always beauty revealed after the storm.
In April, I was selected by jurors at Marblehead Arts Association Gallery in Marblehead, MA for the national exhibition, Variations 2023. The Exhibition runs from April 2023 - June 18 2023. The exhibition features sixty incredibly talented Artists and I graciously was selected Out of the 800 submissions. A special thank you to everyone at Marble Head arts Association, I am extremely humbled and Honored to be accepted into your beautiful Gallery. It also marked the first exhibition I have been accepted into for my new forms of artistic expression and medium digital painting, which made the acceptance and experience even more meaningful for me. This May, I was featured at Core Art Gallery located in Denver’s Metropolitan area for the National exhibition flower power and was chosen out 500 talented Artist's submissions. The exhibition ran from May May 12th - May 29th. Readers can also view my work, The essence of life, water equals life this month at the beautiful view art center gallery located in old forge New York water exhibition, Ripple and Roar. The exhibition focus is on preserving our waters. My selection, The essence of life, water equals life exemplifies this. The human body is made up of approximately 71% water; it is vital source of life and the earth is made up of 71% water showing us the similarities between earth and human life. We are very much one in the same. Water is also very soothing both physically and mentally to the mind heart and soul. Due to the aesthetic beauty and its calming soothing physical nature. Essence of life, water equals life, represents all of these qualities that water provides us! The readers can currently view my photograph this month at the beautiful View Art center gallery located the national exhibition is currently showing and runs this month through 6/10/2023-7/30/23.
I am truly humbled and honored and grateful to be accepted in every exhibition and gallery I have shared with you and your readers today. Both years 2022 and 2023 have been a very exciting time for my artistic career and an extremely meaningful memorable time for me in my life!
I hope Artistcloseup readers may be able to enjoy the beautiful current Gallery exhibition, and that it may bring them joy and happiness as much as I have enjoyed being a part the gallery exhibitions and as art has brought to my life!”