Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nalisha Rangel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Nalisha, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I recently installed a very large nature mural in the courtyard of a residential building in downtown Seattle and the process was one I’ll never forget.

The courtyard is already filled with lush trees and sword ferns, perennial flower bushes and hand-made bird houses. When I arrived for my initial site visit with the client, I was taken by how relaxing it was to be in the space. I noticed the windows in the walls surrounding the courtyard. Each resident has a view from their home into this green space. The wall where the mural was to go was big and gray and right away I knew what I needed to do – I would extend the serene courtyard vibe, creating a mural that would disappear the wall altogether. I took pictures of the plants and trees, noted all the shades of green and went home to design a Pacific Northwest landscape oasis. I was thrilled when my client shared their excitement over my proposal. And when I heard the residents enthusiastically approved it, I knew I was creating something truly special.

With the help of some amazing volunteers from Urban Artworks, a local non-profit, installation of my mural was completed in 5 days. We painted 36 feet of plants, 15 feet of trees and a path leading away from the viewer into the background of an inviting evergreen forest. In order to bring subtle contrast to the color palette, I centered a waterfall to incorporate blue earth-tones and shades of turquoise. I used sponges to add mossy green textures to the rocks supporting the waterfall and leaves to the forest path. The scene was coming to life.

What made this process unique was how many residents were able to see the process, chat with us about how important the courtyard is and to hear how excited they were for a custom mural designed just for them. One woman told me how she spends hours sitting on the bench watching the birds and relaxing under the tree canopy. I could see the tears in her eyes when she shared how much she looked forward to enjoying the addition of my mural.

I met so many other residents and heard so many stories about the evolution of the courtyard and what it means to many of them to have an additional green space through art. When the last install day arrived I realized I was really truly going to miss spending the day in that courtyard. The residents have cultivated a very special community who made me feel like family.

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

I am a visual artist based in Seattle. My work ranges from small ink drawings to large-scale murals. I embrace a reverence for natural landscapes and wildlife, spending a lot of time nature-wandering and creating work that captures the details and intricacies of plants, flowers and sacred geometry through a playful abstract lens. My art business prioritizes art accessibility and I work to provide public art in communal spaces while drawing attention to the natural world. I work in a variety of mediums including pen & ink, watercolor and acrylic painting.

As a muralist, I have installed original designs across the Pacific Northwest (previous clients include Bellevue Art Museum, Amazon, Bellwether Housing and The City of Tukwila). Besides large mural installations, I paint mobile murals that work well for smaller spaces. I create mobile murals as a way of sharing my designs with those who may not have access to a large wall but still want to enjoy something designed specifically for them, their family and/or their business. It’s my goal to bring nature into the city by way of custom murals.

I sell smaller works via my website and I have work available for purchase at three local-and-family-owned Seattle businesses: Big Whale Consignment, Cedarhouse Flowers and Asterie Hair Collective. I also teach painting and drawing classes for small-and-large groups. I’m available for Paint-and-Sip parties and Art Workshops. You can see more of my work at ArtByNalisha.com

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

When I travel outside the U.S. I’m always impressed by how many different cities provide and protect subsidies for local artists. Tourists are increasingly drawn to places with unique public art, whether it’s sculpture, murals or architecture. This may be, in part, because not everyone can afford to visit museums or spend time inside them. It’s refreshing to see cities embellished with color and design and know that it was sponsored by the place you’re visiting and appreciated by people who live there.

My hope is for cities throughout the U.S. to continue to provide financial support for local artists and broaden those programs. We have millions of talented artists who at times struggle to elevate and/or grow their businesses. When more cities provide stipends to artists for public art installations across our country, everyone wins.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

As a teaching artist, I enjoy providing access to art education for the next generation of creators. I have the pleasure to [intermittently] work with a non-profit in Seattle, Urban Artworks, which connects local artists with young creators and communities to create public art installations benefitting neighborhoods and businesses. I’ve had the pleasure to lead a group of young people in the creation of a mural over several weeks and share my knowledge of art composition, color theory and design along the way. I support artistic knowledge-sharing, especially as more and more schools dissolve their art programs or remove them altogether. Passing on an art skill is one of the best gifts one artist can give another. It opens worlds of possibilities and allows creativity to flow between artist communities allowing for creative problem solving and proposals. Seeing the final work of a group of young artists, some of whom may be realizing their creative attributes for the first time, is a thing of beauty. It’s a joy to see the pride on their faces and hear them reflect on the process from start-to-finish. When you can unlock the creativity of a young person and give them an outlet to explore it, it’s a powerful thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.artbynalisha.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nalishaestrellas/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nalisha-estrellas-rangel-86131219/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nalishaestrellas

Image Credits
(Nalisha in the forest and in front of colorful utility box) photo credit: Andrea Rangel