We recently connected with Nakia Camp and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nakia, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The process of creating is a treasure that I am deeply grateful for. It is my escapism. My primary mission is to create work that reflects the joy and peace that I find in making art. It is to make work that connects with anyone who understands that there is beauty all around us, even in the “little things”. My goal is for collectors of my work to know that they have invested their hard earned money into a quality piece of art that will last for years to come, no matter if they are purchasing for themselves or as a special gift for someone else.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Like many artists, I started creating at a very early age and fell in love with the idea of becoming a professional artist once I grew up. I took as many art classes in high school as possible. However, once I graduated, there were many detours on the way. I worked in retail, hospitality and the medical insurance industry until one day I decided that it was time to be honest with myself about what felt “right” to me and what made me feel whole. At that time, I was only sketching in my free-time away from the office, which wasn’t very often. I started looking at community colleges in my area because I knew that I needed to have more structure in order to make significant advancements in my practice. I wanted to learn to be disciplined enough to create art more regularly and fortunately that is what I got. Once I started experimenting with oil paint, I never looked back. It is by far my favorite medium. I make an effort to paint every day, even if it’s only for an hour or two. Developing this habit has allowed me to be able to produce work consistently and in turn, make it available to sell. I started by just showing work to family and friends and have transitioned into showing and selling my work to the public.

My favorite subject at this time is definitely food. I try to utilize the paint in a way that captures the colors, textures and the all of the good feelings that go along with a delicious treat. For example, a still life painting of a little strawberry flavored candy represent more than just candy. It’s symbolic. It might remind them of their sweet grandmother or of other important older women in their lives.

I paint realistic original still life oil paintings on surfaces such as canvas or wood using a variety of objects as reference. Most of my work has been painted alla prima (wet on wet). I like for the brushstrokes to remain visible and maintain somewhat of a loose style. Generally, the pieces are small to medium sized works, which are perfect for new collectors or those who might like to buy art in a grouping or series. I look forward to creating more narrative still life pieces and offering fine art prints in the future as well.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most gratifying aspect of being an artist is knowing that I have put forth a sincere effort to be my authentic self despite the challenges of taking the path of choosing a creative career. I have the privilege of setting an example for my daughter Autumn, and showing her that there will be many ups and downs in pursuit of your goals. There will be so many days when you feel like you can’t take another step forward but that’s not the case. Learn from the mistakes and keep moving forward.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

It is my hope that non-creatives recognize that for most artists the financial outlook can be bleak. But despite this fact artists and creatives feel compelled to create. We feel moved to share a part of us that will allow others to see the world through another lens. Sometimes the experience is beautiful or fun and at times it may be painful but in the end it manifests as a human connection. When the world supports the arts, it in essence supports our humanity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @nakia.camp.art
• Twitter: @nakiacampart
• Youtube: @campart

Image Credits
Autumn Brown