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

Alright, Nichole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

My artistic journey began when I was a child. I was born with an insatiable curiosity for color, texture and whatever my imagination could create. I first learned to paint as many children do, in elementary school art class. I saved my allowance to buy paint-by-number kits. I checked out how-to-draw books from the local library. From a young age I was already on a quest to be an artist.

In my teens I ditched my high school academic classes to be in the art room. With the help of my high school art teacher, Mr Kooper, I built a portfolio and was awarded a scholarship in the Young Artist’s Program at Otis Art Center in Los Angeles. This program opened me up to a world of formal art training that I had yearned for. It was during this time I found my place and “my people” in the world of art. I went on to earn my B.A. in Fine Art and Design from San Diego State University where I painted my first murals for any friends with blank walls. I continued to cultivate my training by studying with top muralists around the world, learning different techniques from the masters. Eventually, my love for Old World art brought me to the cobblestone streets of Versailles, France, where I lived and studied classical decorative painting under Ecole Jean Sablé, one of Europe’s most acclaimed painters.

Michelangelo’s famous words on his deathbed, “I am still learning” have always resonated with me because I consider myself a life-long student. I never want to stop seeking, learning and discovering all I can about painting and art.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi. I’m Nichole Blackburn, Founder and Creative Director of Celadon Studio Fine Art – a boutique mural company based in Los Angeles that specializes in fine art murals and custom canvas artwork. I started Celadon Studio in my early 20s, based on a deep desire to create murals that would inspire everyone. Whether you are an art aficionado or discovering art for the first time, I want my paintings to be accessible for all. For over 20 years, Celadon Studio has transformed private residences, upscale restaurants, children’s schools, and landmark hotels around the world. I am honored to work with big names and high-profile projects, but my heart beats just as fast working on smaller projects. I have gained inspiration from exploring over 50 countries, studying with the industry’s top artists, and collaborating with clients from around the world to create larger-than life masterpieces.

Giving back is a priority. Big Sky Countries 501(c)(3) is a non-profit I launched in 2006 whose mission is to donate large scale murals to elementary schools, special needs facilities, orphanages, hospitals and youth centers around the world. Big Sky Countries’ purpose is to spread joy through art. Murals remind us that there is a big, bright world beyond every wall. I have been honored to donate murals to children’s facilities in Thailand, Ireland, the Philippines, Bolivia, New Orleans LA, Atlanta GA, Costa Rica, Sandyhook/Newtown CT, Trenton NJ, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, Colombia and throughout Los Angeles. To inspire each inner artist, the children and faculty members are encouraged to paint with me. I believe art is for everyone.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Painting has always been my first love. I have a strong commitment to making each mural the absolute best it can be. That means endless research, tirelessly sketching designs, exploring different compositions and creating custom painted samples – This all happens before the mural even starts. I also become an expert on each subject I paint. If I am painting horses I will study the breed, the horse’s genetic background, and how they move, including specific muscles, so I can understand what I am painting. I recently completed a historical mural for an LAUSD school celebrating their 100th anniversary. I worked closely with the city historian, the school principal, the staff and local community to learn everything I could about the history of the school, down to the smallest details. The result was a series of murals celebrating the rich history of the school that even the oldest locals could relate to.

I truly get obsessed with every painting. The mural I am working on will be my only focus the entire time I am painting it. Creating art can be all-consuming. When I finish a painting, I can finally step back, relax, and return to the real world before diving into the next project.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I am a big believer in buying art from local artists. Go to an art fair in your town. Visit a local school’s art show. Check out your neighborhood artist collective, and buy directly from the artist. You will not only be supporting a hard working artist, but also the local community.

I would encourage the public to also consider hiring a muralist to paint an accent wall in their home, children’s room or office. I think everyone would be pleasantly surprised to discover that local painters and sculptors can offer cost-effective art pieces, especially if the artist is starting out. New muralists are always hungry to build their portfolio and are great for nurseries and kids’ rooms. Another option for discovering original art is garage sales, thrift stores and searching online for up-and-coming artists looking to sell pieces. I started collecting my first canvas pieces a few years ago while attending the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CA. Seeing other artist’s work on my walls brings me great joy and inspires my own creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.celadonstudio.com, www.bigskycountries.com
• Instagram: celadonstudiofineart
• Facebook: Celadon Studio Fine Art
• Linkedin: Celadon Studio Fine Art and Nichole Blackburn
• Youtube: nicholeblackburn7858

Image Credits
All photos by Charlotte Lea Photography EXCEPT: 1. Liquid Marble photo  (Katerina Hung) 2. World Map ceiling photo 3. Blue Whales photo