The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

VETERAN artists Nicole Collie makes no apology for her nude art. Her latest collection of paintings, featuring the naked female form, makes it hard to believe it once made her uncomfortable. She was once fearful that her work would be misinterpreted as sinful and explicit. As a result she kept her more exposed paintings hidden in her studio.

“For many years I did not share my paintings with anyone because I knew what the reaction was going to be. People believed that nude paintings were sinful. I have not always been able to talk so freely about my work because I was still trying to understand why I do what I do. I have had so many people in my past question what I do. Ask me to change what I paint and to go so far as calling it porn,” said Nicole.

In her latest renderings, nude female figures resurface as the dominant feature. The paintings will be mounted in an upcoming solo exhibition in College Park Georgia, Nicole’s current residence, on March 22.

Nicole says the paintings of the unclothed female body are not intended to evoke sexual arousal, and are to be appreciated as aesthetic objects.

“There is a big difference in being nude and naked. Nude art is the body being portrayed as an art form; nude art is not created to intentionally arouse the viewer. Therefore, one evokes sexual lust and the other does not,” she told Tribune Arts.

In “The Art of Nicole Collie” show, the beauty of a woman takes centre stage. The curves possessed by a woman take shape in the paintings.

“(Women) are fluid; they represent water, moving throughout the canvas. And, like water, their depth can be immeasurable,” said Nicole.

One of the main reasons Nicole paints the female figure is to get women to look at themselves in the mirror, with all of their imperfections and joyfully accept who they are.

“There is a very special place that I wish for all of us especially women, and that is to be able to look at yourself naked in the mirror with all your flaws and love who you see. That is not to say there isn’t work that needs to be done but it is being honest with yourself about who you are. Accepting the fact you will never be perfect but you will do your best, love who you have turned out to be and enjoy the person that you are. My inspiration comes from my own journey of accepting myself,” said Nicole.

“We women spend so much time trying to look better to hide or not acknowledge our flaws and that is sad to me,” she said.

The pieces in her latest body of work feature a variety of colours, textures and patterns.

“I love colour. Colour to me has rhythm and I feel it when I paint. It is only after I put the paint to the canvas do I see textures, patterns and a vision of what I want the painting to look like. I am not a planner when I paint; it is spontaneous and drives me until I know it is finished,” said Nicole.

Nicole participated in past shows including Genesis, Destiny, Split Personality, Bliss, The Art of Time, Spirits in a Material World, 4th Annual Graham Thorton Charity Art Auction, Art For Haiti, Sine.Qua.Non 2009, a group exhibit.