Today we’d like to introduce you to Nalisha Estrellas

Hi Nalisha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I’ve been creating art in one way or another since I was a kid and was fortunate to have encouraging parents who provided me with supplies to explore different mediums. In college I was an art major for only a semester because I found the curriculum a bit suffocating, so I pursued a different degree altogether keeping art as a hobby and eventually a side-gig once I entered the workforce as a 20-something. I worked 9-5s in offices where I could spend my evening hours working on logo designs for clients and drawing/painting as a creative outlet. After years of fine-tuning my skills, and realizing I wasn’t fulfilled by my office jobs, I chose to pursue art full-time with logo commissions and mural gigs while selling my framed originals.
I’m currently working to become a tattoo artist as I complete my first year as an apprentice this fall. It’s been a joy to translate my fine-line drawings into tattoo designs and explore my unique style more and more. I am still booking mural gigs and the occasional logo commission. I’m working on a new painting series featuring ocean life in Puget Sound. I continue to sell my original work through my online shop.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

I tried life as a full-time artist for the first time in 2012, having no experience with marketing myself or my art, and it was very different from what I expected. I ended up going back to work at a 9-5 after only 4 months. I learned very quickly that being a full-time artist means being a marketing manager, a bookkeeper, an administrator, a project manager and a creator all at the same time. Once social media enabled me to reach a broader audience, I was able to take on more art gigs and eventually invested in a website, launched an online shop and kicked-off a newsletter to an audience that had been following my journey for a few years. As my art gigs and online sales increased, I knew I had to decide on whether or not to keep art as a side-gig or try the full-time artist life again. I’m now a few years in and a lot of my hard work has been paying off. It’s taught me to be very mindful about how I spend my time. And I continue to learn about running a small business day by day.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

As a visual artist I create nature-inspired drawings, paintings and tattoos. I specialize in geometric botanical designs as well as abstract landscapes. I try to incorporate a sense of movement and flow in my work, giving a nod to sacred geometry while creating my own [unique] version of familiar plants and animals. I’m known for incredibly detailed drawings (like 8×10) and have seen viewers walk up to my framed work, getting as close as a few inches away, to see the intricate elements I create with my tiny-tipped pens. I’m proud of what I call ‘nature-scapes’ in many of my collections, featuring ecotones, atmospheres and animal forms. Probably the most unique thing about my art is the way I build a composition. At first glance you see one thing but very often my viewers see something new the more they look at the work. I love engaging multiple layers of reality in my creations because it keeps it fun and interesting for me and them.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?

I’ve been dancing since age 6 and after decades of growing up in a dance studio (ballet, tap, jazz, modern and contemporary ballet) it makes sense why a lot of my art carries a sense of movement. I absolutely love the feeling of dancing – I often compare it to flying. I feel as much joy dancing as I do drawing and painting. Many times I will look at a plant and see a dance; as if the plant is reaching like a dancer extending a limb and when I draw I like to continue that extension into a new reality or play with the unexpected. I use shapes, textures and line to lead my viewers’ eyes like a dancer leads a gaze across the stage. My art and dance have a very symbiotic relationship (they always have) and I know it’s helped me evolve my art over time. Bonus – I know more about anatomy (because of dance) so after a long painting session or tattoo appointment I stretch a lot in specific ways to release areas in the body that would otherwise result in pinched nerves or tendinitis. It also allows me to sustain long hours of creating and maintains flexibility in my muscles and releases endorphins. Both are great for a full-time artist who spends days, sometimes weeks creating a single collection!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artbynalisha.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nalishaestrellas/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NalishaEstrellas/

Image Credits

My personal photo was taken by Janette Casolary.