Portrait artist Nicole Troup is an individual I have known for a long time, and someone I hold in very high esteem, so I am delighted to share with you the results of picking her brain about the creative process. Troup has a varied portraiture carrier, working with clients ranging from actors to politicians, from healthcare facilities to athletes. She is intricate and skilled, but as you will see, believes that creativity and storytelling are the most foundational concepts for her work.
In Creative Authenticity: 16 Principles to Clarify and Deepen Your Artistic Vision, painter Ian Roberts writes, “We may be impressed by the craft of the artist, but almost always what moves us the most is the beauty that is expressed through the craft.”
Troup does something really special with those stories, too. She is the founder of the Portraits for a Cause Project, which weaves together the inspiring personal stories of the subjects and promotion of the arts and culture with her own artistic eye. You can find out more about PFAC through the link at the end of this article and learn more about Troup as an portrait artist.
by Nicole Troup
For more information about the work, please visit the link HERE
What is your preferred creative medium? Do you always work with these materials or do you work in other mediums as a part of your process?
Oil paints are my preferred medium, but I also like working with acrylics, charcoals, graphite pencil and gold and silver leaf.
What is your earliest memory of making something creative?
When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I remember my brother was drawing animals or fish from a book. I enjoyed hanging out with him, so I sat down with him to also draw. I remember finding great enjoyment from it and received positive feedback and encouragement from others for my drawings which was the fuel that drove me to keep on pursuing art. It gave me confidence that I could do this.
Who or what influenced your creative development early on?
My parents were a strong positive influence for my creative development. They saw that I was interested in art and that I had potential, so they fostered that and enrolled me in private art instruction growing up with Ski Holm. My art teachers and art school also gave me direction. I graduated from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2008.
Did you ever doubt whether you were “allowed” to pursue creative work?
I never felt that from my family. They were always very positive and encouraging with my interest in art. If I ever felt some doubt, it was from encountering different people along the way that may have made a comment where I sensed an inkling of doubt that may have created a little insecurity in me at times. Some of those doubts stemmed from the choice of pursuing the arts was not a “real job” or it was “inferior” to other jobs. But I’d have to say that overall, I’ve received mostly positive encounters that surrounded my pursuit of an art career.
What did your creative life look like before anyone was paying attention?
Before I learned to get my artwork in the public eye, I was unsure sometimes as to the direction I wanted to take it or what specific thing I wanted to focus on. Once, I started building up the confidence to get my work out there, I started finding more direction. Some of that direction was based on what the public really connected with in my art or what feedback I received.
Where do your ideas usually begin?
I create portraits driven by storytelling. Some of them are commissioned and others are a part of my portrait series that features portraits of impact under my non-profit “Portraits for a Cause.” Each portrait is a collaboration with the subject I paint or draw and then I feature their impactful story along with their portrait. So many of my ideas for these portraits are of people I know locally or in the art or film industry. If the person has an impactful story, testimony, etc. that I know will resonate with the audience or encourage others than that’s where I’ll get my inspiration from.
What conditions help you do your best creative work?
Quietness, a creative podcast or music in the background keeps me in the creative zone.
How do you respond to creative blocks?
I will look through art books or magazines which gets my creative juices flowing.
How do you handle criticism?
I try to be open minded, but also secure. I want to be confident knowing that no matter what anyone says about my art that I am confident in the path that I have taken. But I also want to be open minded that not everyone will prefer my art if it’s not their style, etc. Be open to accepting constructive criticism that can help make you a better artist. Look at criticism with a filter. Take what is constructive and use it and block out anything that doesn’t align with your direction.
Is creativity something you do, or something you are?
I think it’s both. Creativity is something that is a part of who I am. All forms of art, if done correctly, can make you feel something strong, such as a film you watch or a painting you look at in a gallery. My art is often times a reflection of what’s inside me. My faith in God is important to me so many of the storytelling that I do through Portraits for a Cause is reflective of other people who have faith in God and want to share an encouraging story of how God helps them overcome obstacles in their life that can be encouraging to others and offer hope.
Has your understanding of creativity changed over time? How?
Yes. When I was younger, I thought good art was mostly about craftsmanship and making something look very accurate like a photo. Craftmanship is still very important to me. But over the years other aspects of creativity have become a priority such as storytelling, how you use light and shadow to create a mood, or composing elements in the painting or drawing that can make someone feel something or put themselves in it.
What misconceptions do beginners often have about creativity?
That you have to wait to get inspired before you can create something. Be in charge of your creativity. Get yourself in the mood. Find a quiet place. Whether that is grabbing an art magazine or going online, YouTube or looking up some of your favorite creators out there. And if you’re still not motivated, just force yourself to start working on your art and then often times those feelings follow.
What habits have had the biggest impact on your creative growth?
Creating a weekly schedule that designates specific time for painting, classes and all of the overhead that goes along with promoting your work, checking emails etc. If I don’t set weekly goals, then they slip through the cracks.
Why do you think creativity matters right now?
Creativity in all areas, whether you are a visual artist, film artist, writer, musician, performance artist, is so important in our society. Successful art, done in the right way, makes the viewer feel something. It can create positive or negative feelings that bring change to things in our world. An example would be as simple as an anxious patient sitting at a doctor’s office who is focusing on the beautiful paintings on the wall that grounds them in the moment and elicits feelings of calm and peace. Or it could be as impactful as watching a movie or reading a book about things going on in our world that motivate us to get involved in some way. Sometimes it’s listening to some faith-based music that resonates with a difficult situation in my life that gives me the hope that I need in that moment. So yes, creativity in our world is so important in many ways.
To support Nicole Troup and to learn about her work, please see the links below:
Media surrounding Portraits for a Cause
Nicole’s
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
She is also an Ambassador for the Portrait Society of America
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