We recently connected with Lindsey Nelson and have shared our conversation below.

Lindsey, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

There have been several meaningful projects for me, but one in particular does stand out. My acrylic painting “Begging of Time” holds an important place in my heart. This concept came after a conversation with a friend. We were messaging about topics such as the beginning of time, where we came from and how we got here. He made a typo. This typo turned into “The Begging of Time”. The words stuck with me…wondering what time begging would look like and feel like. What it would be like to beg time to slow down or speed up, as we often do, but in a painting. I wanted to show time as fast and fleeting. I wanted it to be contained in itself with images of a younger organism and an older organism, begging in the sand and seas of the world. The longing in the eyes, the need each creature has, is important to me. It was an emotional piece to create and I made sure to take my time on it.

Lindsey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an artist from Southern Illinois with my focus primarily in painting. My personal art style is surrealism but I dabble in other styles, mediums and art forms quite often. I am currently not a full time artist, as I hold multiple part time jobs and am currently in school for Environmental Research and Geology. Art, however has not and will never fade from my life. I will always make time and space for me to create.

There are common themes throughout my personal artwork that I feel are noteworthy. Often times you can see a struggle for balance or some sort of conflict between organisms. These organisms vary in form, but each one possesses some wish or need. Sometimes it’s a physical desire and sometimes it’s buried deep inside. There are scenes of power struggles, between wealthy and poor, old and young, bold and shy, that convey a longing for understanding and compassion. Mostly, they are just in the world they inhabit, trying to survive or thrive.

Another motif I visit often is that of small rooms, with creatures too large for the space. I like seeing how the creature can operate in this room and the emotions it feels while being so confined. The first one I painted was during the pandemic, during lock down. I wanted to explore the idea that we become the environment that confines us, and the desire to be free and how that might be expressed physically and mentally. This painting is titled “Lockdown in Chicken Town” and is my favorite work to date.

Other works are less intense in theme, leaning towards a whimsy and innocence that the others don’t quite have hold of. These are filled with bright colors and organic forms, usually drippy and wild eyed, ready for fun. I love the freedom of combining creatures and bending them into interesting shapes and situations.

In the past 11 years, I have had the pleasure of traveling with my art doing shows, live paintings, interactive installations, festivals and even a brief stint in Canada. I have also had the joy of expanding my craft to a larger scale and audience by working on many murals. With 15 murals under my belt now, it has become a new passion of mine that consistently stretches my abilities, dealing with more commercial work and the specific needs of the customer. It’s a never ending adventure.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I would say that my mission in art initially, is to give the things inside of me a voice. I want these things that are good, bad or anything in between, to have a way out and in the open to breathe. I think it is important to express the inner dialogue, struggles and images that fly around inside of us. I feel that holding them inside wouldn’t be fair to the person holding them, or the things being held.

The goal in letting these images flow, is not just self serving. I hope that people can see my work and feel something inside of themselves stir as well. I want people to think for themselves and find meaning in my art, and apply it to their lives however they see fit. Bringing whimsy and otherworldly images to the light is very beneficial and I hope that it helps in some way.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the fact that it will always be there. No matter my mood, how long I’ve been away, what happened that day, week or year….it will always be there. In a world of uncertainty and constant change, it’s so nice to know that I always have a friend in art that I can turn to. This undying creative friend is for everyone and I find that incredibly rewarding and comforting.

Contact Info:

• Website: lindseyartnow@gmail.com
• Instagram: @nelsonartnow
• Facebook: LindseyNelson