We recently connected with Nikki Contini and have shared our conversation below.
Nikki, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I am very happy as an artist but that does not mean that I don’t sometimes wish for a ‘regular job’. This has to do with stress, responsibility and self discipline and feeling overwhelmed. Here’s a big run on sentence…when my studio is a mess with no space to work and I have tons of student work to fire in the kiln and my back is hurting and I have a multitude of unfinshed projects and also paper work and my website in stale and family and social life is pulling me one way…the thought of a regular 9-5 job where I can just come home after a day of work and leave the job at ‘work’….that begins to look somewhat appealing. This is my ongoing challenge- being my own boss. It takes orgaizational skill, planning, ambition and clarity for what I want. Some days or even weeks are easier then others but I wouldn’t trade what I have created for myself. When things get frenetic, it means I need to take a break, listen to myself, water the well- do I always listen to myself..nope! But I have learned along the way so much about myself and what I am actually capable of. A work in progress -thats me. Perfection is a pain in the ass!
Nikki, 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?
Growing up, I was always drawn to crafts and art but I really found my passion with glass fusing. I took a workshop back in 1994 and have been hooked ever since! I still find that nothing beats that wonderful feeling of opening the kiln and seeing how a piece has turned out after firing. I love how glass comes alive with light and bursts with vibrant color. Fusing glass brings me so much joy, and my work naturally reflects this enjoyment.
Being a creator has been a healing balm throughout my life. I truly believe that all acts of creative expression can be a powerful way to heal, reconnect with ourselves and our communities. We can intentionally dive deep into creative endeavors that help us to heal or get deeper in touch with ourselves and we can also play lightly, just enjoying the gift of imagination and flow that often happens when we create. I do not think it matters what we do except that we honor our very human need for creative expression and that we keep the channel open.
When I began glass fusing years ago, I was obsessed with making glass framed glass mirrors. I made hundreds of them. Healing, positive mirrors that had affirming words, quotes and designs made with the intention to encourage a gentle voice that honors the self with love and acceptance. My degree is psychology fused together with my artwork. I healed myself in many ways by making those mirrors and as I evolved so has my artwork and my desire to teach my passion. I wanted to create and offer a fun and safe space for others to explore their imagination and self expression through art. Fast forward about 20 years and here I am a traveling art teacher/teaching artist…living the dream. HaHa! Teaching and Creating- always searching for ways to find that balance to fit it all in!
Engaging in any creative process can often be healing and transformative. My hope is that ‘we’ all are able to tap into the magic of expressive arts to help heal ourselves and our world-That there is opportunity and space for that exploration. I feel deeply that there is not enough emphasis on the healing nature of creative expression in our society. I think this is a missing link, or a starved need and desire in many of our communities, but it is an essential piece to healing the current landscape of our time- We need more art- in schools, in the workplace, in our parks….! More avenues for expression in all its forms. Meaningful, intentional, expressive, honest – not always pretty, sometimes mysterious – this process of making something that comes from within our spirits is a treasure and gift. We can also be moved greatly by what others express and nature in all its wondrous glory, can also give us this gift of healing and connection. So much potential with the simple act of pen to paper, a dance, a mindful walk in the woods, a sculpture, a collage, a simple scribble…bypassing overthinking and judgment- getting to the heart- maybe there is a release, more acceptance, tolerance or forgiveness- maybe just a little more inner space or maybe something came and went or a solution found….so many benefits to allowing ourselves to be in a creative flow.
From the Heart to Head and Back Again with Love for Spirit – Spiral into Yourself and Bloom!
~Nikki Contini~ Fusing Fun Art
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Over the years, the mission driving my creative journey has evolved. At first, I was soley focused on myself. My art was a healing journey for me as well as an activity that brought me a lot of joy and a sense of personal fullfillment. As the years go by though, my mission has expanded beyond myself. I truly believe in the healing power of creative expression for our society as a whole. So when I create or when I am teaching it is with a purpose to inspire creative expression, connection, positivity, healing, confidence and joy. Let Art take you home is what I have painted on the wall of my studio. That is the feeling and the inspiration that drives me in my art pracitce and in my teaching.
I love to work with kids (and adults) and hold that creative space for them to just go for it. To learn to trust themsleves, their creatvity. I also see the magic of collaboartion and the joy it brings. I always tell my students – there is only one you- let yourself shine. Art can be serious, deep or light..or a combination. Trust the process and put that judgey inner critic in a time out. There are so many benefits that extend beyond the actual art class/worshop. We can carry that expansive feeling into the rest of our lives…stay open, foster imagination and creativity in all aspects of life.
Recently, I have been making a lot of glass work centered around hearts. My 7 year old niece needed a heart transplant and it was a very scary few mpnths, thankfully she was able to get her angel heart. During this time, I found myself layering hearts into a lot my artwork- wanting to attract heart and hope into our family. This is one of the ways I fulfill my creative mission to help heal within myself and family.
I have also been making glasswork that is rainbow themed. This has to do with supporting the LGBTQ2 community whose rights are under attack. Its very upsetting. To show solidarity and support I’ve been on a rainbow making journey.
There is a call and response process that leads me in my artwork. Healing themes often begin to show themselves in the form of symbols and in the colors and shapes of the glass. Actual forms and designs emerge as these healing mental images begin to resonate within my artistic spirit. This process is really the motivating foundation for all my artwork and jewelry. Nature, mood, fantasy also all intertwine and bring my designs to the surface. My hope is that these artistic visions expressed in functional form bring more color into the world and a sense of beauty, playfulness, creativity and hope.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I have had to unlearn that the lesson or messaging that I recieved about what it means to be an artist. I grew up thinking that being an artist was not viable for income. That is was not practical. I grew up thinking artists were chaotic, messy, eccentric beings. I grew up appreciating art but actually being an artist was for someone else. Maybe, I was just a crafter., hobbyist.. whatever that means. I had alot of inner dialougue about how I could never do this full time. I explored other careers but never committed. I thought I would always have to have a side job along with creating. Over the years, through taking chances- dipping in a little more, small steps- like doing a show or pop up- along with therapy, coaching, workshops, reading, meeting other creators I gradually learned to undo some of my misperceptions. I also realized that through teaching my passion I validated myself and confirmed the love of what I am doing. I am so thankful for that. I did not have a long term plan and sort of fell into the way I live my life as a mostly self taught artist and art teacher. There are challenges.- I have had to learn organization, business skills, sales skills, social media skills, how to set up a booth, a website etc. I am a work in progress- playing catch up . Finding balance is key too. I see-saw between teaching and creating – wanting to do it all. I encourage all budding artist entrepreneurs to learn how to run a business early on in their careers. Its okay- it doesnt make you any less of an artist or creative person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fusingfunart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fusingfunart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FusingFunArtbyNikkiContini
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-contini-a55a6324/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikkicontini4805
- Other: I included Linkedin and Youtube although I do not use that often.
Image Credits
I took these pictures myself.