We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nikki Gregoire a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nikki, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

This isn’t a story about a risk that I’ve taken, per say, but a story about a risk I’m getting ready to take. I learned, recently, that the company where I work at my “day job” is downsizing and my role will most likely be eliminated in the coming months. Rather than view this as a setback, I’ve decided to use it as an opportunity to take Bespattered Facade to the next level. I’ve dumped all my available capital into supplies and plan to throw myself into the business full-time to see how things grow with it receiving 100% of my attention vs. 25%. It might be a great idea, it might be a terrible mistake, but I’m going to find out!

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?

I’ve always been creative in one way or another, and I started my Bespattered Facade Instagram account about a year before lockdowns started. Through sharing my art via social media I’ve met a lot of interesting people, all over the world, and I’m glad I stuck with it. I didn’t expect Bespattered Facade to be much more than a part-time, temporary diversion, yet here we are 3 years later still going strong. Currently, I’m working my way through a scratch-off map of the United States (and the world) scratching off states and countries as I ship art to new collectors. As of today, I’ve shipped my creations to 8 countries and 45 of the 50 states in the U.S.

Bespattered Facade is based on a love of color and creative expression. I call most of my creations “violently colorful,” and specialize in affordable art that is both beautiful and functional. My creations tend to be functional in one way or another, notebooks, decorative trays, jewelry, or other home decor items.

My intent as an artist is to spread color and joy. As a brand, Bespattered Facade loves all the colors of the rainbow and supports groups and charities who embrace diversity and inclusiveness.

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

Social media has allowed me to accomplish so much, but is also (unfortunately) a large source of stress and negativity. Even if you, personally, do not like something that someone created, that’s perfectly fine, so long as you do it quietly. It takes a fair amount of bravery to put your art out there, and casual cruelty hurts. I think social media empowers many people to say rude things online that they would not say in person.

We, as a society, should raise each other up and always remember to “be kind, first.”

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I get particularly excited when collectors send me photos of my art in their homes. It’s gratifying to see how excited they are to add it to their lives, and it’s interesting to see how people fit it into their interior design vision within their space.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://bespatteredfacade.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bespatteredfacade/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bespatteredfacade
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BespatteredFacade
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bespatteredfacade

Image Credits
Bespattered Facade