NIC OBU
“For now, the method that works best for me is the “step by step” method.I paint the background of my canvas, select a first theme with my color charts and draw a first shape, then a second one. After that I take a step back, and imagine what comes next.”
Where are you from?
I’m was born in Sweden but my parents are French. I was raised in Stockholm, Russia and in Paris. Recently, I moved to Normandy.
An artist you´d invite to dinner.
Fernand Léger, was a French painter who grew up in Normandy. He’s a pioneer of the cubist era and I admire his work.
Describe your art in three words.
Sunset, Shapes & Colors.
How did the quarantine affect your creative process?
My hobby for creativity and my first tries at painting started 4 years ago. Before the quarantine period, I was in a discovery phase, testing a few mediums, small scale.
As I was professionally active and working from my apartment in Montmartre, I had more time to devote to this burgeoning passion. I quickly felt the need to grow. I needed more space to develop my creativity on a larger scale in order to fulfil my passion.
2021 is the year I took the decision to change my space and to settle in Normandy, near Giverny, an hour away from Paris. Located in the middle of a protected nature, my creative space has expanded, so are my dreams, clarifying my life project.
‘My work is inspired by….’
…the Horizon.
The horizon helps me to push my thoughts further. It represents an important part of my creative process.
Did you always want to be an artist?
Yes! I think I always loved to create things with my own hands. When I was a child, I used to draw my dream bedroom’s furniture, and reorganize it on a very regular basis.
Creativity leads me to a strong sense of accomplishment and my passion leads me to happiness.
What 3 films would you take with you on a deserted island?
Film: Cast Away
Serie: Designated Survivor
Documentary: The Greasy Hands Preacher
What has been the most difficult thing to overcome as a professional artist?
The most complicated is the situation I am currently faced with, from the creation of legal status to the organization of my sales process that I would like to operate by myself first.
Talk a bit about stepping into the NFT arena.
…I’m just a curious guy. I landed into cryptos thanks to friends who were seriously interested in it. Since then I regularly followed crypto news and when NFT business started and I saw painters selling 100% digital creations, I told myself I had to try.
Gabe Weis, an American artist whose work I admire, and who seems to be doing well in this field, inspired me to start.
I don’t take my NFT business very seriously, despite how big this market is now, (and I’m sure it’s just the beginning) I’m not really sure I want to focus on that.
Something creative you’d like to try?
I’d like to test as many things as I can, first I’d love to pursue home furniture creations, and then maybe start playing with metal, and Ceramic work.
How do you get over a creative block?
Working on my creativity makes me happy. Finding myself confronted with a creative block represents for me an opportunity to go further in my creative thinking, thus making me even happier. These blocks are the occasion for me to develop my working methods and to progress. I don’t have today a precise method to overcome them.
For now, the method that works best for me is the “step by step” method. I paint the background of my canvas, select the first theme with my colour charts and draw the first shape, then a second one. After that, I take a step back and imagine what comes next.
How has your art evolved over the past three years?
In the last 3 years, the size of my creations has grown, the quality of my tools has improved and I am more and more satisfied with my completed works.
Name three of your favourite artists on Instagram?
Pauline Di Valentin: She draws amazing, coloured, and dreamy interiors,
Lucia Sellier: She transforms upcycled tissues into great landscapes
Jonny Niesche: His gradients are incredible.
What’s your favourite quote to live by?
I don´t have a favourite quote to live by but I went on the internet and found this one, by Hegel, a German philosopher and painter: “Nothing great has been accomplished in the world without passion”.
My search for a passion led me to think bigger and to take action on my dreams so I think he’s right.
Your proudest moment so far as a professional artist.
I did it!! I bought my dream house, and now I can do whatever I want in it, a powerful sense of freedom. I’m super proud and happy about it!
