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

Nöelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’ve been blessed to have many meaningful projects over the past few years, but I’ll share one in particular that was incredibly meaningful that also sparked a few other projects! Last year I had a mom reach out to me on Instagram about wanting a large painting for their home, but asked if I’d be willing to let her 3 year old daughter (who loves art) help paint a piece with me so that the piece would have even more meaning for them. I immediately said YES because I am also a mom and knew how special that would be. They were thrilled! We set up two different sessions, both about 30-45 mins long with the parents present. It didn’t take long before the little girl got in her groove, using her hands, elbows and feet! At one point she even walked on the canvas leaving a little trail of toe prints that we subtly kept in the piece! We listened to the Frozen soundtrack, danced, took breaks, swapped painting techniques and got super messy! After the second session was completed, I used the next week to study the piece and give it an aesthetically pleasing flow while keeping those precious touches from the little girl. After I finished, the parents got to view the final look and give their approval before framing.

The best part of this whole experience was getting to witness this family create a memory with their child knowing she’s helping create a piece that she will grow up with in their home. It was truly magical! Since then, I have had the pleasure of helping multiple other families create a piece and a memory with their kiddos! It’s incredibly rewarding to create a positive experience and share the joy of art with kids!

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

My business name is Nöelle Grace Designs. I create mixed media abstract paintings on paper and on gallery wrapped canvas. The bigger the pieces, the better! Art is personal so I’m all about original work. When you step into my gallery you will see there are no two pieces exactly alike. I do not do prints, so everything you see and touch is one-of-a-kind.

To give a little backstory, I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember. My passion for creating art began in Junior High when I discovered an interest in calligraphy. I would spend hours and hours practicing out of a calligraphy book, then find myself making projects for friends. During my college years and beyond, I experimented with different types of mediums and discovered that I absolutely love creating abstract art with watercolors and acrylic paints because there was more freedom of expression involved.

Life got pretty busy from 2013-2017. Upon college graduation from SFA, I got married and started working full-time while also remodeling houses with my husband. During those years, I would still try to find time to paint, but could only do it here and there. In 2018 I became a stay-at-home mom and found myself painting more and more as an outlet. It refreshed my soul to create again. After a few months of creating pieces, I decided to make an Instagram page for my work as an art diary and to my surprise I started getting inquiries from people wanting to purchase my work! I would have never guessed that 5 years later I would have my own storefront/gallery space!

Since the day I put my work out into the world, I have devoted countless hours studying what works together and what doesn’t. Investing in quality paints and practicing with it over and over. Experimenting with colors, mediums, texture, and lines. I’d spend weeks finishing a painting only to cover it in white paint to start again. All of these moments are behind every painting you see. It’s part of the magic of the piece.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

To me, the most rewarding part is knowing I’m getting to use the gifts God has given me to bring joy to someone’s life and connect people.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I like this question because it reminds me of when my brother came to visit my shop when I first opened. We grew up in Glen Rose, a small town outside of Fort Worth known for its dinosaur tracks. Collecting original art wasn’t something our family did, nor had I heard much about abstract art. So when my brother visited I wasn’t really surprised when he jokingly asked “what exactly is abstract art? Do you just splatter paint on a canvas and you’re done?” We both laughed then I was able to share some insight with him. So! If you’re reading this and wondering the same thing, keep reading!

Abstract art has been around well over 100 years. I fell in love with it from the start because once you get a blank canvas out it becomes a boundless territory to create something from your imagination. There is joy in the freedom of painting something that isn’t supposed to be an actual “thing”, but rather letting your heart lead the way without feeling like you have to stay within the lines. It’s a form of expression and interpretation for the artist of what they see/feel and yet the viewer gets to see what they want to see. I love this quote by Arshile Gorky that states “Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot see physically with his eyes.” The use of color, texture, lines and marks are all decided by the artist to make something truly unique the world hasn’t seen yet. This is why I love original abstract art so much, knowing there’s only one of that piece out there just like it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.noellegracedesigns.com
• Instagram: @noellegrace_designs

Image Credits

Nöelle Overturf