Artist's Statement
Searching for new material is half the fun of creating original work! I look for the best way to capture the essence of a moment, be it reality or fantasy. Inspiration turns to feverish work to achieve a piece that successfully leads to a visual climax.
The challenge I like to make for myself is when I find that certain feeling in a subject, how I'm going to work out the process of how to achieve it with any materials I have.
It's when I have people cry looking at a piece of work because it moves something inside of them; that makes it all worth it! I've worked in many mediums but my favourites are graphite, watercolour, acrylic, and chalk pastel. Sometimes I use them singularly or mix several together to achieve a piece.
I love drawing and painting the human form, but have always tried to learn all subject forms and varied techniques so as to improve in all fields. It is an ongoing enjoyable journey. With watercolour, and chalk pastel, I find achieving luminescence easier for me than other mediums. I also use acrylic or chalk pastel, and sometimes an addition of oil for most of my large pieces. I really enjoy creating larger pieces! I find the action of creating a large piece exciting, fun, and inspiring in itself!
When I was younger my goal was to paint entirely realistically and worked to perfection. When I was under twelve, my inspiration was wildlife artists. I attended many workshops where I was the only child. I began adding the human form to my selection.
Later in workshops I tried varied subject matter to strive to be proficient in all types of art. I feel realism is still an element in some of my work most of the time, but I am now finding I want to create looser, more expressive work. However, I find that when I am doing a commission piece of portraiture, etc. that realism is still important to the average customer. It's very exciting to think of all the new things I have planned in my head for future pieces!
I am very comfortable having solo exhibitions annually since 1976, including several joint shows and competitions. Two recent shows were done jointly with Tahitian carver Dempsey Bob.
Most of my solo exhibitions were hosted by the Museum of Northern BC in Prince Rupert, BC. In 2002 I exhibited in Armstrong, BC at the Spallumsheen Museum Art Gallery at the same time as my new pieces were being shown at Museum of Northern BC. Most exhibitions have contained 10 to 30 paintings.
I have participated in the Festival of Arts several times. In 2001 I was accepted to my first juried show as an Active member, with the Federation of Canadian Artists.
Currently, my work is hung at a local jewellers, Harris and Wick Goldsmiths in Prince Rupert and in my home.
Contacting the Artist
Nicole Best Rudderham
1863 Sloan Avenue
Prince Rupert, BC V8J 4B4
Telephone 250.624.5190 250.622.7049
Fax 250.627.8183
E-Mail nicart@citytel.net